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SNAKE CATCHERS. 179 



3r ^ 

 thfcy do it merely as dogs, in order to cause 



vomiting. As sooti as the sickness and effects of 

 the poison are abated, they renew the attack, 

 and with more apparent violence, but with con- 

 siderably mor^aution. 



. 



It is curious to observer with what dexterity 

 these little animals conduct the fight, always at- 

 tacking the tail first, and by that means disabling 

 their enemy with the least danger to themselves ; 

 they then approach nearer and nearer, towards 

 the head, taking off a scale or two at a time ; at 

 last they seize him behind the head, and destroy 

 him. I have reason to think that the people who 

 exhibit the fight, in most cases, first deprive the 

 snake of his venomous teeth, as they very un- 

 willingly allow the Mungoose to attack a snake 

 fresh caught. I have had a dozen fowls bitten 

 by the same snake ; the first died in a few seconds, 

 \and so on, each in a proportionably longer time, 

 to the twelfth, which was more than an hour in 

 dying. 



The snake catchers always carried off the bodies 

 to eat, which shews that the poison does not 

 much affect the alimentary canal, as Fontana 

 proved on himself respecting vipers. The pro- 



N2 



