Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1903-01-25
TRAINED COBRA THAT DANCES

Amongst the many exhibits that attract
the attention of visitors to the Bostock
animal show there is one portion that is
often overlooked by the public. and that
Is the reptilian world.
Ever since the creation of man the SER
pent and snakes and mankind have been
sworn enemies. The Biblical quotation
that with thy heel thou shalt bruise the
head OF the serpent" has been most re-
ngtously fulfilled. But there are snakes
and subscriptions. Boa constructors.
Rnacondas. poisonous and non-poisonous
snakes and serpents of all classes and
garieues-found in all parts of the world
NATURAL ENEMIES.
The usual impulse of all men has been,
''oh. there IS snake; kill it, without
any inquiry as to whether II is pois-
onous reptile or not. Nearly all poison
Gus snakes are Inhabitants of hot CHM
ates. The most deadly being the cobra
di capello. of India. the poison of which Is
80 violent that only a few moments inter-
vene before death takes place. and from
the bite of which no antidote has. as yet.
ever been discovered. This snake is one
Of the most beautiful of the reptilian
order and nothing more delightful can
be seen than troupe of Hindoo SER
pent charmers unloading their baskets,
and play their weird music to which
the cobra balances himself and dances in
time to their rude rhythmic musical notes.
IT is supposed to be a care-taker of hid
den mines Of gold. ruoies. and diamonds,
aad is worshipped as a god by the ma
tives of India It has a most beautiful
hood. which when angry or dancing It
expands. and the back Of which resem-
oles the letter V or pair of spectacles.
and from this IT is sometimes called the
'.specta Gle snake"
RATTLERS. GOOD SNAKES.
Tho rattlesnake OF America Florida,
Arizona, and Texas. Is also poison
snake. but he. unlike the others. gives
timely warning by his rattle of his where
ebouts and is. therefore, rather to be
commended as an exceptionally good
snake Although 1t is as well to give him
wide berth and leave him, and his
family 10 himself.
The general run Of serpent charmers
in this and most European countries in
cline to pythons. rock snakes, anacondas,
boa constructors. and bull or pine snakes,
All these are Of the non-poisonous spe-
cies and make ~ show by reason OF
their beauty and agility. They can read
fly be trained and taught to recognize
the voice Of their keeper. and to crawl
co him or her at the word Of command
and obey his whistle. 10 live in captavi-
ty serpent must have light. food. water.
and warm bed and bath. and almost as
much trouble is taken over Inen as IN
the care of an infant. The greatest diff
Guilty is to get them to feed. for they
are extremely shy and will not feed when
being watched by man. All their food.
rabbits, pigeons. mice. bats. or frogs
must be alive. They kill ii themselves
end afterwards deNour at their leisure,
swallowing the body of their victims
efter crushing It.
a NICE BATH.
In captivity serpent charmer who
would preserve her reptiles. treats them
60 warm bath twice week. in which
Is mingled three or four gallons OF warm
water. pound Of oatmeal. a dozen eggs
beaten up. two quarts of milk and a
pint OF whiskey. This makes an enjoy
able bath: They drink readily OF the
mixture, and will then lay in 1t till 1t
gets almost cold. when they crawl out,
are rubbed dry. and placed in their warm
box full Of blankets. They eat about
once a month and always after shedding
their skin. Their manner OF drinking Is
similar to that Of a horse: swallowing in
draughts, and they can In the instance Of
boa constructors. go an exceptionally long
time without food. One Of the boa con-.
gtrictors. Big Frank OF the Bostock
show. has been known TO go twenty
nine weeks from one meal to another.
sind then dined for three days, during
which time he got away with thirty-two
pigeons. and s couple OF guinea pigs In
certain parts Of Korea. a province Of
China and Japan, 1t is customary for the
Inhabitants to keep tame snakes In their
houses that act as scavengers and keep
che place free from mice and rats