266 REPTILES OF THE WORLD 



out the tongue as if feeling for suspicious sounds, when 

 it rolls over on its crawling surface, making away with 

 as much speed as its stubby form will permit. Sud- 

 denly approached, it flops over on the back again, as if 

 this were the only position to be assumed by a correctly 

 dead snake. In spite of all such airs, a Hog-nosed 

 Snake cannot be induced to bite, not if one's finger be 

 forced into its mouth. Few snakes, among them the 

 most peaceable species, will absolutely refrain from bit- 

 ing when first caught: so we must consider this ugly- 

 looking but wholly good-natured serpent as unique 

 among members of its family and give it credit for seek- 

 ing to frighten away its enemies by a display of ingenu- 

 ous, purely harmless bluff. 



While collecting in the South, the writer had an amus- 

 ing experience with the negroes, this involving a Hog- 

 nosed Snake. The negroes regarded the species as 

 exceptionally poisonous. They had never lingered by 

 a performing specimen long enough to discover the habit 

 of "playing possum." On the way to the savannas, 

 across a cotton-field, a big "Blow Adder" was found 

 crawling along a sun-baked furrow. The writer's col- 

 ored guides and assistants shouted in terror, urging that 

 this kind of snake be excluded from the collecting bags 

 and instantly killed. They were asked to pause, to form 

 a large circle and witness the writer's powers in snake 

 hypnotism. The writer explained he could slay the 

 snake by a few waves of his hand, without touching it. 

 Walking up to the snake, a few motions of the hands 

 convinced the creature its hostile airs were of no use, 

 so it soon rolled on its back, becoming apparently lifeless. 

 A murmur of surprise came from that staring^ circle. 

 The writer insisted the 'dead" snake be passed from one 

 to another to convince his assistants of his powers. With 



