124 SNAKES. 



draws the slender instrument into its sheath, which, while 

 feeding, is safely closed. For this highly-endowed organ 

 is so guarded against injury, that the reptile has not only 

 a place of safety provided, but power to close the mouth of 

 its scabbard, lest dust or other irritating particles should 

 enter. 



We have only to reflect upon and to observe the habits of 

 snakes to perceive the importance of their tongue to them. 

 For the most part nocturnal, winding their way under tangled 

 masses of vegetation, often in dark caves, holes, crevices, and 

 obscure retreats, with their eyes so placed that they can see 

 neither before nor under them, and with other senses only 

 feebly developed, the tongue with its sensitive papillae feels 

 its way, and conveys impressions to its owner. 



Cats have their whiskers to help them in the dark ; moles 

 and mice have their quick sense of smell to guide them ; 

 all nocturnal animals are gifted in some manner or another, 

 but snakes have only their tongue. 



We can now imagine the helpless condition of the reptile 

 if deprived of the tongue ! Rudolph Efifeldt, of whom Lenz 

 speaks as the ' most eminent observer of living snakes,' 

 found that when deprived of the tongue, they would neither 

 eat nor drink, and, of course, died after a while. But Lenz 

 had some snakes sent him which had been deprived of 

 their tongues, and he observed that though for a time dull 

 and declining, they did recover, and by and by ate as 

 usual. From which we can only conclude that snakes, 

 like other animals, differ in their powers of endurance. 

 Some survive mutilation and suffering, some do not. 



Another error in illustrations is to represent the tongue 



