CONCERNING SNAKES. 



THE HORNED SNAKE. 



" The Asiatic species of pit vipers are a good deal smaller in size than the 

 American species," remarked Mr. Godkin. 



"And a great deal more dangerous," added Bob; "they lack the rattle, though 

 the genus halys comes pretty near it. The genus trimeresurus are so vicious when 

 aroused, that they will strike at everything within reach and will sometimes bite 

 themselves, which is a habit to be encouraged. There is a species found in Java 

 and Siam, a single one of which has been known to kill two persons, who died 

 within five minutes of each other." 



" Hold on ! draw it mild," said the wondering Jack Harvey. 

 " Did you see any of the hydrophidcc on your way here ?" 

 " No, I wasn't introduced to any of them," replied the Texan. 

 " I have noticed quite a number between Calcutta and Ceylon," said the director. 



"They are abundant in the Indian 

 and Australian seas, for the whole 

 distance between Madagascar and 

 Panama. Those which I saw were 

 all of the pelamis bicolor species. 

 None of them was more than three 

 feet in length, and they never leave 

 the water. 



" I believe there are about a hun- 

 dred species of the elapida family, to 

 which the cobra belongs," a</^d Mr. 



