578 SNAKES. 



the surprise of finding themselves suddenly there instead of 

 in a dark box. Rabbits hop about and over the snakes, and 

 then sit up and clean themselves. Birds plume themselves 

 and look about to see what they can pick up, perching upon 

 the snake as if it were a log of wood. Rats run hither and 

 thither to find something to eat, and then wash their, faces. 

 Many of the little animals run over the snakes, quite 

 unconscious of their being live enemies, or force their noses 

 under them, to the evident alarm and discomfort of the 

 Ophidian, should he be disinclined to move. Sometimes, if 

 faint and languid, and huddled together in a corner, it is 

 because they — the victims — are oppressed with the closeness 

 of the cage and the vitiated air, but quite apart from any 

 ' spell ' or magnetic influence. They may stare at the 

 serpent that is staring at them, and as they stare in alarm 

 at the people, but they have never seen a python, a puff 

 adder, or a rattlesnake before in their lives, and have not 

 the slightest idea that they are going to be eaten by one. 

 And for this reason you so often see the startled and 

 surprised look the moment of being struck. Thus far 

 they have been unconscious of danger ; and when a shock 

 does come, it is incomprehensible, because instinct does 

 not euide them under the circumstances. 



On account of the excessive timidity of cobras, it is 

 seldom that they can be observed when feeding, which 

 is frequently in the night, or ' w hen no one is looking,' 

 to repeat the keeper's words ; but the little Indian viper 

 {EcJiis carinata) should not be omitted in these notes, because 

 there is difference of opinion regarding its virulence. Being 

 one of the smallest vipers, only from sixteen to eighteen 



