300 Notices respecting New Books. 
their tricks there is no danger te be avoided, it being renioved 
by the extraction of the poison-fangs. The enlightened in this 
instance are mistaken, and the vulgar are nearer the truth in 
their opinion. J have examined the snakes | have seen exhibited, 
and have found the poison-fangs in, and uninjured. These men 
do possess a charm, though not a supernatural one, viz. that of 
confidence and courage : acquainted with the habits and dispo- 
sition of the snake, they know how averse it is to use the fatal 
weapon Nature has given it for its defence in extreme danger, 
and that it never bites without much preparatory threatening. 
Any one possessing the confidence and agility of these men, may 
irritate them, and I have made the trial more than once. They 
will play their tricks with any hooded snake, whether just taken 
or long in confiiement, but with no other kind of poisonous 
snake.” 
Dr. Davy made several experiments on the poison of the 
snakes ; whence he concludes that there are only two snakes at 
Ceylon, the hooded snake and the tic- polonga, whose bite is 
likely to prove fate] to man. 
There is another animal in Ceylon, less dreaded but much more 
troublesome, and the cause of the loss of more lives than the 
snakes. This is the Ceylon leech :— 
€ This animal varies much in its dimensions ; ; the largest are 
seldom more than half an inch long, in a state of rest ; ; the small- 
est are minute indeed. It is broadest behind, and tapers to- 
wards the forepart; above, it is roundish ; helow, flat. Its co- 
Jour varies from brown to light brown ; it is more generally the 
latter, and rarely dark brown. It is marked with three longi- 
tudinal light yellow lines, extending from one extremity to the 
other; one dorsal and central, two others lateral. ‘The substance 
of the animal is nearly semi-transparent, and, in consequence, 
its internal structure may be seen pretty distinctly. A canal ap- 
pears to exteud centrically the whole length of the body, arising 
from a crucial mouth at the smaller extremity, and terminating 
in a small circular anus at the broader extremity, on each side 
of which are two light spots, 
“<¢ This leech is a very active animal; it moves with consider- 
able rapidity ; and it is said occasionally to spring. Its pow- 
ers of contraction and extension are very great; when fully 
extended, it is like a fine cord, and its point is so sharp that it 
readily makes its way through very small openings. It is sup- 
posed to have an acute sense of smelling ; for no sooner does a 
person stop where leeches abound, than they appear to crowd | 
eagerly to the spot from all quarters. 
«< This animal is peculiar to those parts of Ceylon which are 
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