Evening journal., 1898-10-26
PHILIPPINE SEA SNAKES.
Formidable Creatures, More Deadly
Than the Cobra which Are Grept-
~ Feared by Fishermen.

Not only DO various reptiles and
other queer creatures abound in the
forests and swamps of the Philip.
pines. but the surrounding water oi
these interesting islands TEEN with
veritable sea serpents. These strange
creatures, which pass their entire ex-
istence in the water, possess deadly
fangs. They are a great menace TO
the fishermen, who are constantly ex.
posed TO their attacks.
Technically speaking, science has
named the group they constitute the
Hydrophidae. They differ from the
terrestrial snakes only in the pos
session of afat, paddle-like tail. These
reptiles inhabit the tropical seas of
the old world, and occasionally attain
length of eight feet. DR.. Rudolph
Weber. professor Of drawing in Prince
ton university, observed large num-
bers of these creatures while on a
steamer bound for Sumatra. DR.. Web
er was in charge of a scientific ex-
petition, and naturally took especial
notice of them. He says that when
coast myriads of sea snakes could be
seen swimming about as far as the
eye could reach. They kept upon the
surface, and several distinct species
were recognized among them. Dur
ing calm weather these reptiles may
be seen summing themselves upon the
surface of the sea, remaining mo-
tionless except for a slight undula-
tion caused by the movement of the
water. When alarmed, the agile rep
tiles dive like arrows, leaving a train
of bubbles behind them. Some spe-
cies are extremely brilliant in colora-
ton, being bright yellow, banded with
black, while others are tinted with
delicate shades of green.
The food of sea snakes consists en-
tirely of fishes. Frequently fishes
armed with long sharp spines fall vic
Tins to their appetites. Among these
are the apogous and siluroids, which
are furnished with spines three and
five inches long. But these do not
embarrass the voracious reptiles in the
least. The victim is first killed by the
snakes poison, after which it is swal-
lowed head first. The spines, naturally
pointing toward the tail of the victim,
and being relaxed in death, are com
pressed against the body of the fish
as deglutition proceeds. While in
search of their prey, sea snakes some
times venture a short distance up
the mouth of large rivers. DR.. Web
er records an instance where he
was fishing in one of the rivers on
the east coast of Sumatra. He was
using a drag net, and had cornered
a number of medium-sized fish. As
the net was being brought in, tive
large sea snakes suddenly made theii
appearance inside. They showed nc
signs of uneasiness at capture, but
were hurriedly gobbling down the cor
nered fishes. Nor did they cease op
erations until the last fish had disap
| peared, when the formidable creaturei
made their escape.
Being air breathers, the sea snakes
lead a similar existence to the whale
Scientists have expressed much in
terest as 10 how long they can re
main under water. Prof r. ?. Whitfield
of the American museum of natura
history, while dragging for corals, saw
a large sea snake lying motionles
among some coral growths SOM
eight feet below the surface.
showed 10 signs of fear, and RENAME,
in the same position for half an hour
The venom of these reptiles is ever
more deadly than that Of the cobra
The fangs are very short, and conse
, quently do not penetrate so deep a
the fangs of most serpents, but only
scratch from them is necessary to pro
duce serious results. Owing to thei
great shyness accidents are very rare
When cornered they snap and bit
viciously, retaining their hold upon
! victim. As the eyes are adapted onl
for use in water, they strike blind
ly when brought into the air, althoug
living for days when removed fror
their native element.
= When about to lay their eggs, thes
/ serpents approach the shore. TIL
eggs are laid above high water mar
and left to hatch by the heat of th
sun. Many creatures prey upon tn
young reptiles. Among their enemie
are sharks and other large fishes, Will
the adults, in spite of their deatl
dealing fangs, fall victims to sea eagle
and large gulls. After the great ty
phoons, which are common in th
Philippines and their vicinity, many {
4 these creatures may be found alon
the beach, where they have been ca:
> up during the STERN and killed by tn
violent pounding Of the waves.-N.
II Times.
Alarm Clock That Yclls.
An ingenious Frenchman has inven