SNAKES. 429 



the point. From this opening to the point, which is as sharp as 

 a needle, the fang is quite solid ; but, hollow from it to the root. 

 This point may aptly be styled the pioneer of death, as it makes the 

 wound into which the poison of the irritated serpent flows through 

 the hollow part of the fang. It is the fatal weapon which causes a 

 snake to be so much dreaded, and condemns the whole race to uni- 

 versal detestation ; although, in fact, not one snake in ten has been 

 armed by nature with the deadly fang. Still, as all snakes are more 

 or less of the same form, especially when viewed at a distance, every 

 individual is held in horror : the guiltless suffering equally with the 

 guilty. Armed with a poison-fang, the snake, at one single stroke 

 (never repeated, as far as I could see), avenges itself on the unfor- 

 tunate animal which has trodden upon it, or has put it in bodily fear, 

 by disturbing its repose. When not in readiness to inflict a wound, 

 these two poison-fangs assume a recumbent position, so as not to 

 interfere with the action of the ordinary teeth, which are firmly fixed, 

 are very small, and most admirably formed to seize their prey, and 

 to send it down into the stomach. All snakes have these teeth, used 

 only for snatch and swallow; as mastication, or grinding of food in 

 the mouth, cannot be performed by snakes. The prey is laid hold of 

 by these crooked little teeth, in the first instance, after which, it is 

 slowly swallowed, without having undergone any change since it 

 entered the mouth of the serpent. At the root of the two poison- 

 fangs are smaller ones, but much too pliable and tender to inflict a 

 wound. They appear to be a provision by nature, in case that 

 accident or disease should render the mature fangs unserviceable. 

 Take away these mature fangs, and immediately the snake is rendered 

 harmless. 



Those amusing knaves who profess to be serpent-charmers, always 

 take care to have these fangs extracted, before they exhibit their 

 wonderful powers in the presence of an assembled multitude. My 

 life upon it, none but a devil incarnate would dare to put his hand 

 into the mouth of a snake possessing these fangs, uninjured. A bite 

 would be the certain consequence ; and either death or excruciating 

 pain, the result. Snake-charmers, taking advantage of the universal 

 horror in which all serpents are held, contrive to manage the thing 

 to a nicety, either by extracting the poisonous fangs, or by making 



