96 SNAKES. 



this * stinging tongue' has its origin in mystery. Long 

 before a deadly serpent was examined by an intelligent 

 reasoner, and the nature of its fatal stroke comprehended, 

 the mysterious * dart ' was seen to play ; this, to the ignorant, 

 being the only visible and possible instrument of such 

 fatality. But that the fable should still obtain is amazing. 

 Even some learned men of the present century, if they do 

 not happen to have included natural history in their studies, 

 assist in disseminating the error. Can they, however, be 

 acquainted with classical writers .'* - Pliny, to whom many of 

 the old-time errors in natural history have been traced, must 

 be acquitted as regards the poisonous tongue ; for though 

 he speaks of the ' sting ' of a serpent, I do not recall that he 

 once attributed the injury to the tongue. Aristotle, whose 

 reputation as a naturalist ranks far higher, distinctly and 

 frequently speaks of the bite, and the degrees of injury 

 inflicted by the various kinds of serpent bites. It is possible 

 that some classical writers may have supposed the tongue 

 to be an instrument of death, as it is certain that some of 

 the sacred writers did. But our inherited faith in Bible 

 history has, until recently, checked all doubt and even 

 inquiry. Now, however, that a new version of Holy Writ 

 has been deemed essential, it is to be hoped that an efficient 

 naturalist is included in the Council. 



In justification of the above criticism I may be permitted 

 to quote just one of the many unquestioning writers. The 

 author of the History of Egypt, W. Holt Yates, M.R.C.P. of 

 London, President of the Royal Medical Society of Edin- 

 burgh, Physician to the General Dispensary, etc., says in a 

 foot-note (vol. i. p. 322), 'It is a mistake to suppose that 



