The Hog-nosed Snakes 



If these fighting symptoms do not produce the desired 

 effect of freeing it from molestation, the Hog-nosed Snake tries 

 different tactics. Suddenly opening its mouth, it appears to be 

 injured and to lose strength. Then a convulsion seemingly 

 seizes the snake, as it contorts its body into irregular undulations 

 ending in a spasmodic wriggling of the tail when the reptile 

 turns on its back and lies limp and, to all appearances, dead. 



So cleverly and patiently does the snake feign death that it 

 may be carried about by the tail for half an hour or more, hung 

 over a fence rail where it dangles and sways to a passing breeze, 

 or tied in a knot and thrown in the road, and to all of this treat- 

 ment there is no sign of life except from one condition. In spite 

 of this remarkable shamming the snake may be led to betray 

 itself if placed upon the ground on its crawling surface. Then 

 like a flash it turns upon its back again and once more becomes 

 limp and apparently lifeless. It appears, according to this crea- 

 ture's reasoning, that a snake to look thoroughly dead should 

 be lying upon its back. This idea is persistent, and the experi- 

 ment may be repeated a dozen times or more. 



Should the observer retreat some distance away, while the 

 reptile lies thus, or he seek nearby concealment, the craftiness 

 of the animal may be realised. Seeing nothing further to alarm, 

 the serpent raises its head slightly and surveys its surroundings, 

 and if there is no further sign of the enemy it quickly rolls over 

 upon its abdomen and glides away as fast as its thick body 

 will carry it. But at such a moment a move on the observer's 

 part would send the reptile on its back again, with ludicrous 

 precipitation. 



With such hostile airs and thick-set body, this snake is gener- 

 ally regarded throughout the regions it inhabits as having fangs 

 and a poison to correspond with its deadly appearance. Nor 

 can those that entertain this idea be blamed when we consider the 

 lack of popular works on the American reptiles, and the time- 

 worn explanation that "the poisonous snake may be told at a 

 glance from the harmless one by the triangular head and thick 

 body" — which outlines are displayed by a large number of our 

 harmless snakes when irritated, in fact to such an extent that 

 many of them assume the character more distinctly than the dan- 

 gerous snakes themselves. 



In some sections the Hog-nosed Snake is thought to be so 



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