SNAKES AND BLOODSUCKERS 



of one more non-venomous snake : the Brazilian's eyes light up at 

 its very name, and he cannot sufficiently praise it. This snake is 

 the Mussurana. 



The Mussurana (Plate 31, 9) is a very beautiful snake; its black 

 scales have the gloss of lacquer, and each is surrounded by a white 

 border; the whole reptile looks as though cast in bronze. But it is 

 not for its beauty that it is honoured. The Mussurana is famed as 

 an auxiliary in the campaign against the venomous snakes, and in 

 particular the Jararacas. For this reason Mussuranas are kept at 

 the Snake Institute of Butantan, of which I shall presently say 

 something ; and there, if a Jararaca is thrown to a Mussurana, one 

 may see the latter immediately seize the venomous snake, quite 

 regardless of its fangs ; in wild confusion the writhing bodies lash 

 to and fro ; the Jararaca defends itself desperately but unavailingly ; 

 at every pause the jaws of the victor gain a surer hold (9), and 

 presently only the tail of the victim is left protruding from the other's 

 mouth. The Mussurana can find its prey anywhere; it knows at 

 once if there is a venomous snake in its pen, and proceeds to drag 

 its victim out of its hiding-place, or to pursue it if it attempts to 

 climb. 



I have already said that the traveller in India or Brazil need not be 

 constantly in dread of the fangs of venomous snakes. I will once 

 more explain why. 



In the first place, the venomous snakes, as one may tell by their 

 cat-like eyes, are nocturnal reptiles ; if one sees them at all by day 

 they will be basking in the sun ; but they are then uncertain in their 

 movements, as they cannot see plainly ; and I myself have found 

 that a Rattlesnake, if one teases it with one's outstretched foot, 

 usually misses the boot when it strikes. 



Secondly, the boots worn by Europeans are a protection against 

 venomous snakes ; it would be an extraordinary thing if the snake's 

 fangs should penetrate the leather. Even so, most of the poison 

 would be wiped off the fangs as they passed through the sock, and 

 only a remnant would enter the flesh. As a rule, the venom is 

 deadly only if the snake bites the unprotected skin. But everything 

 depends on the interval which has elapsed since the snake last used 

 its fangs, or the amount of virus which has accumulated. Since the 

 native peasants and field-workers always go about bare-footed, they 

 have more reason to fear snakes. When they are working all day on 



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