SNAKES 189 



(python), which was probably the one previously seen 

 on Kimmi, for they swim well, as do most snakes. 



One day when going round Tavu Isle in the canoe 

 preparatory to landing, I happened to look over the side 

 and saw a snake swimming very gracefully, with the 

 top of its head just above water. It soon took fright, 

 dived, and was lost to sight in the deep water. It appeared 

 to be a young python about two feet long. 



Another snake which on account of its beauty particularly 

 calls for mention is a harmless, slender, grass green species 

 often seen on the lake shore hunting for frogs, whose 

 pitiful cry when once heard is always recognizable again. 

 The brilliant grass green colouration and very graceful 

 movements of this snake always evoked one's admiration. 



A similar bright green species might sometimes be seen, 

 high up among the branches of trees, sometimes travelling 

 rapidly and almost leaping across gaps too big to be 

 spanned. The manner in which it seemed to spring 

 across from one tree to another is very interesting, seeing 

 that in the Malay Archipelago certain snakes have carried 

 the process further, and take gliding flights from a high 

 to a lower branch.^ 



The last snake to be mentioned is a very curious 

 and interesting species, which was once found deeply 

 buried in the base of a termite hill which was being 

 demolished. It was about twelve inches long, greenish 

 grey in colour, very smooth, and could move back- 

 wards or forwards equally well. The eyeless head was 

 so small that the slightly swollen posterior extremity, 

 ending in a blunt spike, was larger. When handled the 

 snake pressed this blunt spike forcibly against one's hand ; 

 doubtless an ignorant person would have dropped it, 

 thinking it was biting or " stinging." These snakes are 

 entirely subterranean, and are found both in Asia and 

 Africa ; presumably they live on worms and burrowing 

 ^ Shelford, A Naturalist in Borneo, pp. 79-82. 



