17 



CHAPTER II. 



HABITS OF POISONOUS SNAKES. THEIR CAPTURE. 



All poisonous snakes are carnivorous. They feed on small 

 mammals (rats, mice), birds, batracliians, other reptiles or fish, 

 which they kill by poisoning them by means of their fangs. 



They almost always wait until their prey is dead before 

 swallowing it. 



Some of them are very fond of eggs, which they well know how 

 to find in the nests of birds, and sw'allov/ whole. 



AVhen a poisonous snake wishes to seize its pre}', or strike an 

 enemy, it raises its head, and depresses the lower and elevates the 

 upper jaw in such a way that the fangs are directed straight 

 forward. Then, with the quickness of a spring when it is released, 

 the reptile makes a sudden dart and strikes its victim. After 

 inflicting the wound it draws back, doubles up its neck and head, 

 and remains prepared to strike again. 



So rapid is the action of the venom, that the wounded animal 

 falls to the gromid almost immediately ; it is forthwith stricken 

 with paralysis, and dies in a few moments. In most cases the 

 snake holds it in its mouth until death ensues ; the reptile then 

 sets to work to swallow its victim, an operation which is always 

 slow and painful. 



In captivity poisonous snakes almost always refuse to take any 

 food whatever. If it be desired to keep them for a long tmie, it 

 is often necessary to resort to artificial feeding". For this purpose 

 the snake is seized by the head by means of a strong pair of long 

 forceps ; it is then grasped by the neck with the left hand without 

 2 



