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The tongue of the snake is its organ of touch, taste and perhaps 

 in part also of smell, and possibly even of hearing. It is by this 

 that it investigates the objects immediately arouiid it. When it 

 is seen to stick out its tongue it is making a critical inquiry of the 

 surrounding objects and is not attempting to sting anything. 



It is also popularly believed that snakes have the power to charm 

 birds and the lower animals and even mankind, but with the most 

 careful investigation, we can not find satisfactory evidences of the 

 truth of this. It is true that some creatures, such as birds, and 

 even some persons, become so terrified at suddenly seeing a snake 

 that they act more or less helpless but this is quite different from 

 being charmed. 



Another common error is the belief that the green snakes are 

 venomous because they are supposed to be filled with a poison that 

 makes them look green. Of the three or four species of green snakes 

 to be found in this State not one is of a dangerous type. 



The old story of the Hoop Snake, which is supposed to take its 

 tail in its mouth and roll down hill like a hoop, striking dead any- 

 thing into which that venomous horn may fly, is very common but 

 entirely without any foundation of truth. No specimen of Hoop 

 Snake has been collected, notwithstanding an offer of a reward of 

 1500.00 for one. Persons who believe such things have not consid- 

 ered that this habit would result in bringing all such reptiles down 

 into the valleys where they must be found, as they would be unable 

 to roll up hill again. Who will say he has seen a Hoop Snake 

 rolling? 



The Horned-snake is another myth, and although it has formed 

 the basis for many newspaper stories, it has no truth. While there 

 is a snake to which there is given the name of "The Horned Snake," 

 it is quite harmless, and there is no such reptile as the mythological 

 creature with a poisoned horn in the end of its tail, which it is able 

 to stick into living objects, even trees, causing death or even milder 

 injury, which is an absurd story frequently publislied. We shall 

 pay well for specim<'ns of IIoop Snakes or Horn Snakes. 



No snakes are able to eject, throw or "spit" poison, nor by their 

 blowing or hissing are they able to blow any ])oison or venom 

 upon their victims. This is generally believed, notwitlistanding the 

 facts to the contrary. 



A common error is the term "slimy," apj)lied to serpents and 

 other rej)tiles. Snakes are not slimy, nor are their bodies naturally 

 moist, being covered with dry scales. One of the easily recognized 

 differences between Lizards, whicli are Reptiles, and Salamanders, 

 which are Amphibians, is that the latter are slimy and the former 

 are not. 



Another common belief is that the constricting species of ser- 



