502 SNAKES. 



affirming that they ' exhibit no phase of affection,' describe 

 their constantly going in pairs ; or the fact that they become 

 * vicious if their retreat is cut off.' ' In their peregrinations 

 male and female are always in company,' says Catlin ; 

 ' and when only one is seen, the other is sure to be within 

 hearing.' When a female has been killed and left on the 

 spot, the male always comes. The Indians profit by this 

 knowledge of conjugal devotion to lie in wait and kill the 

 mate. They place the dead one near the hole of their 

 retreat, and watch the egress of the survivor, which is sure to 

 come and inspect its dead companion. 



Sir Emerson Tennant observed a decided affection 

 between the sexes of the cobra. In his History of Ceylon 

 he gives several proofs, as for instance a cobra being killed 

 in a bath, and the next day the mate being found there. In 

 Baird's Report of one of the Pacific exploring expeditions, a 

 good deal is said about the Bull snake {Pitnophis), which 

 follows its mate by the scent. Once a fine individual having 

 been captured and placed in a barrel near the tent, a large 

 one of the same species was shortly afterwards found close 

 by, and in a direct line from where its mate was caught. 



So much for conjugal affection. As regards maternal 

 devotion, we certainly had a proof in the pythons remaining 

 week after week on their eggs. True, they took no notice of 

 the little ones when hatched, because they were well able to 

 take care of themselves. The mothers had fulfilled their 

 duties beforehand. Snakes which are vicious at no other 

 time, menace those who approach their nests or cut off their 

 retreat. This is a fact universally recognised, alike in 

 Africa, India, Australia, and America : wherever a traveller. 



