The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-08

the sovereign remedy against snake poison
is to eat that poison in small quantities. by
which the system gradually acquires i'm
munity. 1t is an interesting question
whether by eating other poisonous snakes
the King Cobra has gained immunity from
their bites. In making experiments on the
zoo cobras with music the writer found
them more sensitive than any other reptile.
They reared themselves erect in an instant
when they heard the touch OF the bow on
the strings OF the violin. When a lively
tune was played they swayed their heads
from side to side. and when a sudden dis
cord was struck started violently and
spread their hoods; altogether a curious
sight not 10 be forgotten. for the snakes
could not see the performer. who was be-
hind the cage in the passage. but exhibited
these signs OF emotion solely by and
through the musical sounds they heard.
The greater part of the side is occupied By
the great constructors. Physically they ars
more interesting taan any snakes When
the skin is shed the ma gnihcent bloom" on
their scales. soft as that on a plum, yet
not checking a brilliant iridescence Of blue
and coppery red. is one OF the most beauti-
full examples Of animal coloration IN thu
snakes is in motion. climbing up one OF The
trees in the cage, the visitor sees the most
perfect form of movement conceivable. The
creature flows upwards. or horizc ntally as
if by mere effort of the viii Some paris
are at rest. others in motion. the body ex-
pands or contracts in independent sections.
The largest Of the group is a reticulated
python. A certain difference Of habit -
r,.afa In hes Il 81
boas prefer TO lie coiled up in their tree,
like the cid pictures Of the serpent temp
ing Eve. while the anaconda Of the ANA
IONS lies doing in the water. Probably this
is the largest of all snakes. Whether there
are gigantic specimens, say OF thirty feet.
has never been proved. but there is no rea-
son why near great river like the Amazon
with abundance Of food on its banks. a
creature Of the aquatic habits OF the ana
conda. ard with probably a very long nat
ural llfe,i should not attain TO dimensions
impossible for snakes living mainly on dry
land. All the really giant beasts are water
beasts, beginning with the whales. ana
there is no reason why this water snake
should net take after them.
CURIOUS CREATURES.
The deadly puff adder. the color OF dirty
sand. thei tiny horned cerastes, "Cleopatrs's
Asp" and a number OF very beautiful
harmless snakes. mainly living I'm trees
and feeding on rats. mice and small birds,
should be looked at Nor are the lizards
and the extraordinary frogs and toads less
interesting The poisonous hclOdcrm liz
ard. with its fat body and short tail looks
as IL covered with beadwOrk OF black and
pink. The little ''sand SINKS" which hide
under the sand like fiat fish: the palm
| lizards. which eat cabbage tin their stOIn-
i i = a ~
| go on ca Ting hard at the bit ia their mouth
when YOU pick them up. and the big noai-
| tor, which eats eggs. are among the best
/ worth making the acquaintance Of. The
/ frogs. except a few select varieties, do
not live IN the snakehOuse. They are the
jewellers on the Threshold The most
/ curious Of all Is a rat, fiabby. green from
\ Argenina. which buries itself in loose earth
and looks Ike little damp puddle COW
cred WITH moss and duckweed. IL has en-
enormous mouth. and when mouse or
/ small decking comes that way I'D fust
opens this and swallows f. whole The
| Surinam toad. OF which the female carries
/ its eggs as they are turning into toad
hngs mi cells on it's back. and the little
| tree frogs are among the curiosities Of The
/ reptile house. There are few greater anOna-
/ jewellers n the water and the marsh. should
| have adapted themselves TO a life ia trees
| Ike SQUIRRELS or opossums. and have L.
/ veloped a special apparatus on the feet
not FOR swimming. but for sticking 10 vers
teal surfaces like a fly.
| Next Week:
''The Zebras. Deer ard VIVA Sheer
|