26 AUSTRALIAN SNAKES. 



With these known exceptions, the venomous 

 snakes (tlie Water Snakes and Sea Snakes included), 

 produce their young alive, sometimes in great numbers. 

 Thus the Tiger and Superb Snakes produce each 30 or 

 more ; half this number appears to be the complement of 

 the Death Adder ; while I have not known more tlian 

 ten to the Black-backed Snake. The Black Snake and 

 the Black-bellied Snake each bring forth 20 young 

 ones. Mnch, however, is still to be learned on this and 

 other matters affectinsf our snakes. 



Uses of Snakes 



Of what use are snakes ? is an oft-asked question. 

 Such a question implies the dictum that all things were 

 specially " created " for the use of man, and without 

 going into the ethics of the question, it may be stated, 

 as an axiom, that if a snake can live, move, and re- 

 plenish the earth with its species, it will do so without 

 in any way considering its utility ; and snakes are by 

 no means the only creatures who live for themselves 

 alone. However, to speak in a more practical way, 

 snakes do play a part in the economy of nature : they 

 unwittingly assist in keeping in check many other forms 

 which if permitted to increase beyond certain bounds, 

 might become a plague, as for example, mice, frogs, 

 lizards, etc. ; had we more Blind Snakes we might liave 

 less white ants. On the other hand, snakes serve as food 

 for many animals and birds, which may be more con- 

 veniently treated as enemies. 



