59 
“Truly, the innocuous snakes possess but in- 
ferior means of defense against the destroying 
hand of man, their chiefest foe. In my opinion 
the universal sentiments of detestation and fear 
with which these creatures are regarded con- 
stitute their best protection from injury at the 
hand of man.” 
“You speak truly, my Fritz. Though ‘cursed 
above all cattle, and above every beast of the 
field’ is the still existing reproach under which 
the serpent lies, yet but few persons seek an 
encounter with a snake, while the great mass of 
humanity is content ‘to pass by on the other 
side’ when a specimen of this much feared as 
well as universally despised creature is met. 
The fierce and threatening dartings of the 
tongue of an infuriated snake serve as a very 
effectual means of defense.” 
HOW SNAKES BREED. 
“In my pursuit of snake-lore I have been 
peculiarly fortunate in my observations of the 
breeding habits of our common snakes. I am 
surprised to find such a serious dearth of relia- 
ble information on this subject so evident in 
the great mass of scientific literature that pro- 
fesses to record the life habits of serpents. 
Thus, you can appreciate my feelings of satis- 
faction, inspired by the pleasing and instruc- 
tive observations I have been able to make 
