270 THE SNAKES OF SOUTH ABRIGA: 
soon strangle it, or so injure its neck that it will die later of the 
injury. To disengage a snake from the noose, grip it by the neck 
and tail and, with the disengaged fingers, relax the cord and slip 
the noose over its head. Snakes may be securely captured in a 
butterfly net made of strong material. Tree snakes are often 
captured in this way. 
When out snake hunting, wear a pair of strong leather gaiters 
or top boots. Thick gauntlet gloves may be worn, but they have 
the disadvantage of making the fingers feel clumsy. Besides, it 
is rather awkward carrying a big pair of gloves about. 
A snake cannot bite through a pair of leather gaiters of average 
thickness. In capturing a Ringhals Cobra, take care it does not 
discharge a shower of venom into your eyes. 
How To COLLECT AND PRESERVE SNAKES. 
The collection and preservation of snakes is a most interest- 
ing hobby. Provide yourself with some permanganate of 
potash, a sharp penknife, and a ligature in case of a chance 
bite from a snake; also some good receptacle for your 
specimens. Take also a long forked stick, the points of 
which should be sharpened. When a snake is observed, it is 
usually quite easy to pin him down with the forked end of the 
stick, by pressing down on the back of his neck. Then apply 
some oil from the stem of an old tobacco pipe to the end of a 
wand and rub it in the snake’s gaping mouth. This will either kill 
him outright or put him in a trance-like condition. To make sure 
he does not revive later, make a tiny incision at the back of 
neck and sever the connection of the spinal cord with the base of 
the skull. By employing these methods you will obtain a perfect 
specimen. 
Another method is to strike the snake sharply across the back 
near the head with a stick. This invariably dislocates or breaks 
the backbone. Then the creature may be killed with the nicotine 
oil. It is, however, never wise to injure a snake by striking it if 
it can be avoided, as subsequently, on immersion in the preserva- 
tive fluid, the injured part gets puffy, and the scales come off. 
