SNAKES 107 



the fact that, in order to locate the head, they will fre- 

 quently pass their tongue all over the animal. 



The power of fascinating other animals, so often attribu- 

 ted to snakes, is known to be a fallacy by all who have any 

 experience of these creatures, for when live mice, rabbits, 

 ducks, etc., are introduced into their cage, these will often 

 immediately settle down on the coils of the snake, or force 

 them, by biting or pecking, to quit some snug corner 

 which they desire to appropriate. Some interesting 

 observations have been made on the behaviour of different 

 animals in the presence of snakes, by Dr. Chalmers Mitchell 

 and Mr. R. I. Pocock. They found that, with the excep- 

 tion of monkeys, the majority of which, without doubt, 

 recognized snakes, and were much alarmed, all animals 

 were totally indifferent to their presence. Of the mon- 

 keys, it was noted that the lower ones were only mildly 

 alarmed, while the lemurs had not the slightest fear, and 

 would, had they been given the opportunity, have seized 

 them and probably attempted to devour them. 



The process of swallowing is a more or less mechanical 

 one, and snakes, being provided with recurved teeth, once 

 they have caught hold of their prey, are forced to go 

 on swallowing until it has entirely disappeared. When 

 several snakes are kept together in a small cage, two will 

 often seize hold of the same prey at opposite ends, and 

 consequently when their snouts meet, in the middle of the 

 animal's body, the snake with the larger gape is forcibly 

 compelled to swallow its companion. That the sense of 

 taste is almost entirely absent in snakes was demonstrated 

 some years ago in our reptile house, when a large Python 

 swallowed its blanket, which fortunately was disgorged 



