42 THOSE OTHER ANIMALS. 



that is or should be objectionable in its appearance. Very 

 many species are beautifully marked ; their movements are 

 for the most part graceful ; and they are admirably adapted 

 in all respects for the life they have to lead. The harmless 

 sorts have frequently been tamed, and are capable of con- 

 siderable affection for their masters ; and even the poisonous 

 kinds, when deprived of their fangs and accustomed to the 

 presence of man, have no objection to be handled, and 

 submit to familiarities without any show of resentment. 

 Unfortunately for the snake, man is not endowed with an 

 instinct that enables him at once to distinguish between the 

 harmless and venomous species, and the consequence is, 

 that in the countries where snakes abound, one of the first 

 things impressed upon the minds of little children by their 

 mothers is, that the snake is a creature to be severely 

 let alone; and even in a country like our own, where 

 poisonous snakes are rare, we are never able in after life to 

 completely emancipate ourselves from the prejudices of 

 childhood. The snake, upon the other hand, has no natural 

 hostility to man. If man places his foot upon its tail it will 

 of course retaliate, but with a few exceptions the snake 

 never goes out of its way to attack man, and will always 

 avoid a contest if the opportunity be afforded to it. In- 

 deed, there is every reason to believe that if man were 

 inclined to be on good terms with it, the feeling would 

 be more than reciprocated. The snake suffers much from 

 cold, and would gladly accept the genial warmth of the 

 human bed, or the human dwelling, were it but made 

 welcome. Even as it is, it does sometimes seek that 

 warmth, with consequences that are frequently unpleasant 

 either to man or itself. 



