CHAPTER XIV. 
ITEMS OF SNAKE KNOWLEDGE. 
MAINLY A SUMMARY IN BRIEF FORM OF THE CONTENTS OF 
THE BOOK. 
SNAKES evolved from Lizard-like creatures with legs. 
Fossil remains of Flying Reptiles have been discovered. They had 
membraneous wings and tails, like those of bats. Their long bill-like 
jaws were toothed. 
Birds evolved from reptiles. The reptile developed membraneous 
wings. Later, feathers were evolved. 
Snakes are reptiles. Birds evolved from reptiles, therefore birds are 
relatives of snakes. 
Snakes are found all over Tropical and Temperate portions of the 
world, excepting New Zealand. 
No traces of snakes have ever been found in New Zealand. 
In South Africa there are Burrowing Lizards which have no trace of 
legs. They shine like burnished copper. Their tails are blunt. They 
are usually mistaken for snakes. 
Some snakes lay eggs. Others give birth to young. 
Snakes’ eggs have no hard shell like those of birds. The covering of 
the egg is soft, but tough and leathery. 
Snakes lay their eggs in warm places, such as holes in the ground, and 
amongst decaying vegetation. When vegetable matter is decaying it 
generates heat sufficient to hatch snakes’ eggs. 
Snakes only have one active lung. It is a long hollow tube. 
A snake’s heart will continue beating, sometimes for fifteen minutes or 
more, after its removal from the body. 
If a snake’s head be cut off, its heart will continue to beat, often for 
a whole day. 
Snakes hiss by expelling air forcibly through eae glottis and nostrils. 
They do not make any actual sound. 
Snakes crawl by moving their ribs. The muscles move the ribs. The 
ribs operate the shields on the abdomen. These shields are elevated and 
their edges grip the ground, tree, or whatever the reptiles craw! over. 
A man may become immune to the bite of any particular kind of snake 
by injecting himself with venom of the same species. He must start 
with a very small dose, and gradually increase it. Such an experiment 
is not to be recommended. It might prove fatal. 
