IX. 

 INDIAN SNAKES. 



India abounds in snakes. Learned European scho- 

 lars, who have paid much attention to Indian opbiology, 

 have determined that there are about two hundred and 

 sixty-four known species of snakes in this country. 

 Some of them, such as the cobra, the krait, and the 

 daboia &c. bear a deadly venom ; the rest, or at least 

 the great majority of them, are harmless. But, whether 

 harmless or venomous, snakes as a class have, from time 

 immemorial^ been looked upon with a prejudiced eye 

 &nd therefore abhorred and shunned. Yet there is a 

 certain fascination in snakes, and, in spite of our dread 

 and hatred of them, we like to look at their lithe grace-- 

 ful forms and sinuous movements. Be that as it may, 

 our object is to attain some knowledge of snakes ; we 

 must therefore, contemplate them as members of the 

 great animal kingdom, and endeavour to study their 

 wonderful organisation and habits. 



To a student beginning the study of snakes, the first 

 question that suggests itself is, what relatidn does a snake 

 bear to other animals ? We must allow that the question 

 is a pettinent one. But before we proceed to answer 

 it as best we can, it is as well to warn all serious 

 students of Natural History that " no knowledge can 

 fee attained without study," and least of all a knowledge 

 of Natural History, to acquire ever so little of which one 

 feraust be prepared to take infinite trouble. From this 



