The Hog-nosed Snakes 



ened and finding escape impossible, for the species is so thick- 

 bodied that it is unable to get over the ground with any show of 

 speed. Among serpents, the habit in question is limited to the 

 species of a very few genera. The Hog-nosed Snakes are not 

 restricted to this one interesting character. They may best be 

 illiterately, but concisely, described as " bluffers." 



When the Hog-nosed Snake first discovers danger, its first 

 impulse is to make for safety, but owing to its custom of travers- 

 ing sandy areas or ploughed fields where it flattens to enjoy the 

 sun, shelter is a long way off and out of the question. Realising 

 that it cannot escape the object of its fright, the snake's first 

 move is to inspire fear on the part of the enemy that the latter 

 will leave it with the thought that venom is part of its make-up. 

 Taking a long breath, that it may expand its stubby body as 

 much as possible, the snake follows this move by flattening the 

 head and neck to such an extent that the neck becomes fully 

 three times the normal width, causing the colours to stand out 

 vividly on the distended skin while the head assumes the most 

 formidable outlines. It may be said in justice to the reptile's 

 antics that a Hog-nosed Snake, playing this game of bluff is the 

 personification of villainy, and an angry copperhead beside it, 

 in spite of that reptile being genuine among the dangerous, would 

 appear quite angelic to a popular-minded observer. 



While flattened and in every way over-doing the actions of 

 the most deadly snakes, the reptile ejects the deep breath it has 

 taken in a long, sharp, hissing sound. This manoeuvre completes 

 a picture of ferocity seldom to be seen among serpents. The 

 writer has watched the majority of the world's most deadly 

 snakes assume their various fighting attitudes, but he will give this 

 harmless and really gentle creature the credit for appearing even 

 more hostile than the African vipers which are among the most 

 fear-inspiring in aspect of any of the really poisonous serpents. 



During these very hostile symptoms the Hog-nosed Snake 

 continues to hiss with energy and strike repeatedly at the object 

 of its annoyance. To one understanding snakes, the actions 

 are amusing, for /'/ the band be placed within reach of the snake's 

 jaws it is never bitten, and it must be explained that during all 

 these feints, the snake cannot be induced to bite. Its object 

 is simply to frighten away the enemy in order to render possible 

 an escape. 



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