The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-09-04

None is poisonous, and the members
OF this family kill their prey by con-
striction-squeezing 1t to death.
The largest known serpent occurs
in the Malay peninsula, Java Borneo,
and Sumatra. This is the regal or
reticulated python, 1t attains
length Of thirty feet. Second in size
is the Indian python, inhabiting the
Indian peninsula, Indo-China. the Ma
lay peninsula and Java This con-
strictor grows to be twenty-five feet
long and Is very abundant
Throughout the temperate and
tropical regions OF the globe are
species of serpents Of high economic
value. These are mostly the members
of the largest family OF snakes, the
Coiubridae. The greater number of
the non-venomous serpents belong to
this family Our familiar black
snake and king snake are members of
this family. In some parts of the
world the rodent -eating species are
protected by law Distributed through
out India Is a large and active species
Known as the rat snake. Its useful
habits are recognized in many areas.
This Is likewise the case with a closely
related species found throughout
tropical America. The creola French
call the latter the cribo, and in the
coastal regions, where the bubonic
plague has appeared there is a fine
imposed for the killing of rat eating
snakes.
"Queerly enough we find some of
the deadliest known sarpents belong
ing to the same family as the nom
venomous species, The Indian ocean
and the waters of the tropical Pacific
are inhabited by a great number OF
Wholly aquatic, veritable sea serpents
that possess deadly fangs and some-
times swim in schools of countless
thousands. These snakes have a
paddie-like tail to assist them In swim
ming.
Another offshoot is the subfamily
containing the formidable cobras and
their allies. The members OF this i'm
portant subfarnily are treacherously
deceptive In appearance. Here we
have an admirable illustration of how
incorrect it Is to believe a poisonous
snake may be told by the possession
of heart shaped head. number of
the most deadly known snakes belong
to this subfamily.
Most spectacular OF the elapine ser
penis are the cobras. or hooded
snakes. The genus Nata. Of Indian,
Malaysia, and Africa, contains ten OF
spicuous is the Indian or specialized
cobra. Members of several allied
genera rear the body from the ground
and spread the neck in similar fash
ion.
Some of the African cobras dis
e, play n dangerous. habit .ef split tpE
poison at the intrudes. The ringhals.
genus Sepedon, of Southern Africa. Is
pitchy black. exceedingly vicious
or two broad white bands that show
on the neck when The snake is reared
in fighting pose. AS the snake arches
its meek to glare at the intruder it is
liable to eject fine jets of poison for
a distance Of six to eight feet These
deadly streams are dangerously well
aimed.
1.-The Indian cobras seldom eject
their venom in this way. They are the
most spectacular of their group, ow-
ing to the vivid markings on the
hood With some specimens these
appear like a grinning deaths head.
These are much sought by the Hindu
for his snake charming exhibitions.
TN strong contrast to the graceful
elapine poisonous snakes, the mem
bers of the viper family are thick
lbodied and forbidding in appearance.
! Africa IL the home OF the typical
vipers. and number Of these snakes
linhabiting that continent are the most
hideously ugly reptiles In existence.
The gaboon viper ranges over the
whole Of tropical Africa. The body is
exceedingly. thick, stub tailed with a
hugre. spade-shaped head. Instead of
progressing in ordinary fashion this
reptile throws forward lateral loops
of the body and moves along in an
! oblique direction to that In which the
heads pointing. A captive specimen
displayed the trait Of striking back
wards"