Snakes and Frogs 

 and Their Relatives 



CHANCES ARE that snakes either fascinate 

 you or arouse your intense dislike. Few 

 people are neutral, and children are quick to adopt their parents' 

 admiration or profound distaste for the crawling reptiles. How- 

 ever, some children are so fond of snakes that they will bring 

 them home for pets regardless of how their families receive the 

 creatures. Under such circumstances one conscientious mother 

 said to me: 



"How can I make myself like snakes? They revolt me, but my 

 boys are always bringing them home and have so much fun with 

 them that I don't like to object." 



My suggestion was not to try to force a liking for snakes but 

 merely to try to understand them. Snakes are probably the victims 

 of more erroneous beliefs than any other group of animals. Some 

 popular misconceptions, and the true facts about them, are: 



1. False: All kinds of snakes are venomous. True: Most snakes 

 are harmless. 



2. False: A snake thrusts out its tongue as an act of hostility. 

 True: A snake uses its tongue as a sensory organ to explore its 

 surroundings. 



3. False: Snakes have no fear of people and are constantly on 

 the lookout for victims. True: Most snakes do not display an 

 aggressive disposition toward people; if possible, they creep away 

 and hide at a human's approach. 



4. False: Snakes can sting as well as bite. True: No .wnke can 

 inflict a sting. 



5. False: Snakes have great hypnotic powers. True: Only the 



195 



