SNAKES. 225 
bottom of its prison that it will not show any inclination to move 
when a fellow captive is introduced. 
However, all chance of escape of the first caught Snake as a 
second is introduced may be prevented by tying a piece of string 
round the bag immediately above the spot where the former is 
lyinig coiled up at the bottom. The mouth of the bag may then 
be left open ready for the quick insertion of the next capture, 
which can be associated with the other Snakes or Snake by first 
tying up the mouth of the bag and then untying the string around 
the lower part of the bag, the 
mouth then being re-opened for 
the next victim, and the opera- (( a 
tion just described repeated. d \ df 
The bag thus used has not only 
the advantage of security against 
escape, but it is thus always 
ready for the next captive, and 
this is a great convenience. I 
know, from experience, that it 
is no easy matter to undo a bag 
with one hand while the other | 
is holding a fiercely-struggling 
Snake. Of course, several small 
bags, already prepared with ie Vee | 
string and ready open, may be — 
used instead of a single one. gee SI 5 “ = AND 
If the amateur Snake-hunter for “Gancuine _Noosit FOR CATCH. 
has neither the nerve, know- SNAKES. ING SNAKES. 
ledge, nor inclination to attempt 
to catch a Snake with his uncovered hands, he should provide 
himself with a suitable forked stick (Fig. 66) and a properly-con- 
trived slip-noose (Fig. 67). | The noose is composed of a piece of 
pliant strap (a, ) about }in. wide, and a flat length of wood (c), 
having a width of lin. and a thickness of }in. At a (Fig. 67) 
the strap is nailed to the wood and is passed through a hole in the 
/ wood at b, cut asshown at d. The hole (d) should be cut slanting 
slightly upwards from the back of the stick, to allow of the 
easy working of the strap. The hole ought to be made at about 
Q 
