SNAKES 109 



usually oval or elliptical in shape, are produced singly, 

 but, being besmeared with a viscous secretion, stick 

 together, forming a clump. They are usually deposited 

 in manure heaps or among dead leaves. In some cases 

 the mother zealously guards the eggs by coiling herself 

 round them and subjecting them to a sort of incuba- 

 tion, it having been ascertained that the temperature 

 within the coils is higher than that of the surroundings. 

 The number of eggs or young varies enormously 

 according to the species, the lowest number being two, 

 the highest about one hundred and ten. 



As in the case of other reptiles, snakes hibernate in the 

 temperate and sub-tropical parts of the world. 



Although such a large number of mammals and birds 

 are preyed upon by snakes, the latter have themselves 

 many enemies, being in turn preyed upon by the 

 Mongoose, Wild Pigs, Hedgehogs, the Secretary Bird, and 

 various species of Storks. The frequently repeated state- 

 ment that these creatures are absolutely immune to 

 snake-bite is not to be taken without restriction. Dr. 

 Calmette has conducted experiments in order to determine 

 the limit of tolerance of the mongoose with respect to 

 snake venom ; he found that, although capable of with- 

 standing doses which were considerable in proportion to 

 the animal's size, and which would prove fatal to other 

 animals, the mongoose was by no means absolutely 

 immune, and that in most cases the little animal was 

 victorious in its fights with poisonous snakes as a result 

 of its extreme agility. He gives the following interesting 

 account of a combat between a Mongoose and a large 

 Hamadryad — 



