A COLLECTOirS EXPERIENCES 



CHAPTER XYII 



SNAKES AS HOUSEHOLD PETS PREVAILING PREJUDICE 



AGAINST REPTILES THE USES OF REPTILES — WHY 



SNAKES ARE FRIENDS OF THE FARMER THE PLACE 



OF REPTILES IN NATURE 



There is probably no class of creatures less known, 

 more hated, and unjustly persecuted than reptiles ; 

 but observation brings about a transformation of 

 ideas in the minds of their most persistent enemies. 

 One of the prevailing ideas is that reptiles are slimy, 

 and consequently loathsome. Yet among the several 

 thousand species of reptiles not one is slimy. In 

 habits they are far more cleanly than many house- 

 hold pets, and in the colors of their scaly bodies none 

 but persons of narrow-minded prejudice can fail to 

 admire IS^ature's lavish tints. The comparatively 

 small proportion of reptiles possessing poison-bear- 

 ing fangs are not provided with these instruments 

 for the purpose of slaying mankind ; the fangs of the 

 poisonous serpent are intended by JS^ature to be an 

 aid to the creature in procuring its prey. 



Often is the question asked, " Of what possible 



use are reptiles ? " A knowledge of the food of rep- 



1G9 



