OPHIDIAN TASTE FOR BIRDS' EGGS. 63 



show that these latter knew what would be most likely to 

 tempt them ? 



The Indian vernacular of the Ophiophagus is StinkercJior, 

 which means, as Fayrer tells us, ' a breaker of shells.' I 

 have taken some pains to ascertain a more definite reason 

 for this name being assigned to the Ophiophagus, or snake- 

 eater, but without success. Is it because he is an exception 

 to the rule of eggs being swallowed zvhole, he having for 

 his size a particularly small mouth and swallow ; and that 

 he, like his relatives the cobras, being unwilling to relinquish 

 the dainty, manages them clumsily, and breaks the shells .^ 

 There must be some reason for his being known as the 

 ' shell-breaker.* 



Being a tree snake, it may be that ' Sunkerchor,' the 

 shell-breaker, attempts the smaller birds' eggs, which are 

 too tender to be swallowed without fracture. 



The cobra-worshipping Hindus on their festivals place 

 eggs for their gods, that they also may partake of the feast. 



But examples of egg-eating snakes are not confined to 

 India. America, the Cape colonies, and all snake countries 

 are prolific of them. 



Mr. P. H. Gosse in Jamaica killed a yellow boa {Chilobothrus 

 inornahis)^ inside of which he found seven unbroken hen's 

 eggs. It had been caught in a rat trap. 



Catesby, the early American naturalist, in describing the 

 corn-coloured snake, says ' it is harmless except as a robber 

 of hens' roosts.' Lawson, the still earlier traveller, in his 

 quaint description of the 'Racer,' or 'black snake' {Coluber 

 constrictor), says : — ' He is an excellent Egg Merchant, for he 

 does not suck the Eggs, but swallows them whole. He will 



