Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-11-28
4 snake does not grow with the growth

CT snake does not grow with the growth
Of the body AS IL the case with warm
h.ooded animals. So when it begins to
set too tight It is discarded
The Kissing of snake. Mr. r'tzSmons
explains. according to the Westminster
Gazette. is caused by the long saclkc
ling being inflated with air, which is
f1rcibly expelled through the CLOTHS and
nostrils. The puff adler makes the loud
est and most prolonged hiss Of any South
African snake. When alarmed snakes
hiss with the object Of frightening off
their enemies. If snakes We're not able
TO make their presence known they would
lie frequently trodden upon and injured
by the various creatures of weld, forest
and mountain.
An animal will often manifest the
widest alarm at the sight of snake or
on hearing one hiss, although 1t has
never before come in contact with one of
these reptiles. This power of transmit
| ting experiences is" remarks Mr.. Fitz-
Simons. a wonderful provision of nature.
| for if every living creature had to learn
! entirely by personal experience to avoid
/ its enemies and find out what kind of
. food We wholesome or the reverse a
arcat number of species would rapidly
! become extinct
Among the snakes described is the Afri-
! can python. The statements IN regard to
the Length OF these reptiles ara very con-
1icting Mr.. FitzSimons SAYS he has ex-
amined many and the longest was 20 feet.
The average length he puts down as
about IS feet. the circumference at the
thickest part being about is inches.
Tythons are very fond of water and often
lie along the branches Of trees with their
eyes fixes upon the ground below
II something good to eat comes along
the snake simply drops upon II. the end of
the tail gripping tight to the branch. Py-
tnons arc not venOmous. and the tales
about them swallowing people have never
been thoroughly authenticated Pythons
will show fht when wounded or cornered
and at these times. It In distincly danger
Gus for q man # alone to tackle them.
i II have had much experience o
snakes" writes Mr.. FrtzSimons. "anc
, have made 1t my business to observe care
fully their habits and ways both in thei
natural condition in the Wild state an'
captivity. and in no instance have l eve
known a snake TO fascnate an animal IL
the manner It Ia alleged to do" He ha
seen two species. which he mentions
many time in trees surrounded by
crowd of huttering. chatter!ng. excited
birds. But the birds were not, ne SAYS
fascinated by the snake; they were en-
, deavoring to intimidate II In order T.
brighten il from their haunts.
According to one authority about half
I drop OF Indian cobra venom il sufficien
4 to kill man. That means. as Mr.. Fitz
:. S.mons states. that a full sized coor
would be able to eject enough venom n
4 i, single full and complete bite to XII
Q about 20 men. The Indian cobra yield
:. as much as 20 drops. and DR. Hanna men
tions having obtained az much as
n crops.
G In experiments with the venom of tn
O Cape cobra Mr.. FitzSimons found tina
o one drop diluted in little water AMI III
e iected into the TISSUES OF the leg or
y large monkey killed it in half an hour
d time A fraction of a drop was suftcier
8 t. kill rat and fowl within half a
Is hour. Judging from the efects or conT
3 venom on the higher animals. Mr. FIX
n Simons considers that one full drop Is
fatal dose for a strong, healthy man