SNAKES 107 



proceeded to climb to. I overtook the snake 

 about half-way up, took him and tied him in my 

 handkerchief and threw him down, afterwards 

 carrying him home in the breastpocket of my 

 coat. I showed him to several people, hand- 

 ling him with freedom in order to exhibit all 

 his points, then as he coiled and threatened on 

 the table I once more stroked the tip of his nose 

 with my finger. His patience was exhausted, and 

 like lightning he opened his mouth and bit me. 

 But as he must have damaged his fangs by biting 

 the handkerchief on the way home, I cannot say 

 what the bite of a viper is like. I kept him about 

 a fortnight, and when the fangs had begun to 

 grow again I was able to open his mouth and 

 show them to some young friends. 



One more story to the same effect. There was 

 a little girl living with a friend of mine in Essex 

 who was exceedingly fond of animals, and, as 

 animal-lovers do, had a way with them. Once, 

 in her rambles, she came upon a snake carrying 

 a nestling bird in its mouth. She prised its mouth 

 open and took out the little bird, doubtless boxed 

 the snake's ears for its cruelty, and brought its 

 poor little dead victim home. From inquiry of 

 her, and a consideration of the fauna in the neigh- 

 bourhood, I believe that the snake in question 

 must have been a viper. 



I cannot find you our only other snake, the 

 smooth snake, for it is of very local occurrence 

 Hampshire being its headquarters and I have 



