156 THE BOOK OF A NATURALIST 



have often seen the Pituophis, spread out in loose coils 

 with its head in the central one, wake up after a long 

 repose and begin a movement in every curve, the entire 

 body engaged in the mazy movements, with no going out 

 or deviation from the complicated pattern marked on the 

 floor. Observing this intricate harmoniousness of move- 

 ment, I thought of the seer's vision of mystic wheels. 

 Those revolving coils " and their appearance and their 

 work was as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel." . . . 

 The movements of a serpent are never started, rope-like, 

 at one end, and then transmitted to the other ; nor is the 

 movement like the force-waves sent through a ribbon 

 vibrating in the air. The movement consists of numberless 

 units of individual activities, all regulated by and under 

 control of one individual will that is felt in every curve 

 and line. There is some likeness to the thousand personal 

 activities of a regiment seen on their winding way. And 

 all this perfection of control of so many complicated 

 activities is true, whether the serpent, like an ogre, be 

 crushing its victim's bones, or, as a limbless posturist, be 

 going through its inimitable evolutions. In our thinking 

 a serpent ranks as a paradox among animals. There is so 

 much seeming contradiction. At one time encircling its 

 prey as in iron bands ; again assuming the immovable 

 posturing of a statue ; then melting into movements so 

 intricate and delicate that the lithe limbless thing looks 

 like gossamer incarnate. In this creature all the unities 

 seem to be set aside. Such weakness and such strength ; 

 such gentleness and such vindictiveness ; so much of 

 beauty and yet so repulsive ; fascination and terror : 

 what need to wonder that, whether snake or python, the 

 serpent should so figure in the myths of all ages and the 

 literature of the whole world ! Yes, in the best and worst 

 thinkings of man ! 



In the literature of the whole world, true ; but 

 let no one run away with the idea that gems of 

 this kind are to be picked up anywhere, and go 



