A VERY CURIOUS SNAKE. 7 1 



family relic, I praised it highly as a work of art, went 

 into ecstasies over the ladies represented in it, noted 

 the good seat of the rider, drew attention to the grand 

 points of excellence in the nag, and almost shed 

 tears over the terrible fate that seemed likely to 

 befall the gallant burgher. My apparent pity for 

 the plight that the late head of the household was in, 

 and the depth and loudness of my adjurations against 

 the hideous reptile, gained the household's goodwill ; 

 so, after sundry winks and sotto voce whispers, glasses 

 and " square-face " were produced, over which I soon 

 learned the whole story. That these good folks 

 believed thoroughly what the artist had portrayed 

 the juvenile part of the family proved, for they nearly 

 wept over what must have been to them an oft- 

 repeated tale. In fact, I will acknowledge that, but 

 for my powerful and opportune embrace, the best 

 looking of the daughters appeared very much as if 

 she would have dropped on the ground in a swoon. 



After the above incident I met many persons of 

 different nationalities, who firmly believed in the 

 existence of the hoop-snake in fact, got quite 

 indignant if I expressed the slightest doubt of its 

 existence. 



Another very curious snake is said to be not un- 

 known, viz., the glass or broken serpent. If overtaken 

 or surprised, it immediately breaks into numerous 

 pieces, each about the size of a sausage, which 

 endeavour to secrete themselves in the nearest avail- 

 able hiding-places. But .if the intruder should 

 remain still and silent, a slight whistling call of 

 assembly will be heard, when soon after all the 

 different bits will reunite themselves together, and 

 afterwards make the best speed possible from the 

 dangerous locality. 



The next curious belief I know of is that there is 

 supposed to be a snake of wonderful agility, and 

 furnished with a most formidable spike on the termina- 



