SNAKES IN RELATION TO MAN 141 



oculations of the venom, a process similar to vaccina- 

 tion, which renders his blood proof against the 

 venom of the particular species of snake, and that 

 one only, used for his performances. 



Another deadly snake shown by the snake- 

 charmers in North Africa is the Horned Viper, 

 Cerastes comutus. The presence of an erect spike 

 above the eye is, however, not a constant character in 

 this snake, and hornless specimens are made to look 

 more formidable by spines of the hedgehog being 

 inserted in the proper place ; the illusion is such 

 that even naturalists have been deceived by this 

 trick. 



Indian snake-charmers profess to have a belief in 

 the efficacy of snake-stones, or bezoar stones, as 

 a remedy to be applied on the part bitten by a 

 poisonous snake, a belief shared by the natives of 

 many tropical countries. These stones, extracted 

 from various reptiles, birds, and mammals, are 

 calcareous concretions from the stomach or bladder, 

 sometimes composed of superphosphate of lime, some- 

 times of phosphate of ammonia or magnesia. The 

 value of a bezoar stone being supposed to increase 

 with its size, the larger are sold in India at very high 

 prices. 



In many places a popular belief prevails that such 

 stones are found in the heads of snakes. Mr. J. A. 

 Bucknill, now Attorney-General at Hong-Kong, who 

 spent five years in Cyprus, has informed the author 



