74 GLEANINGS FROM NATURE. 



of life, even at the end of an hour's time. According 

 to Dr. Hay, the newly hatched young, when teased, 

 will undergo the same contortions, and will lie per- 

 fectly still on the back until they think they are unob- 

 served when they will turn over and slyly creep away. 

 The favorite resort of the " spreading viper" is a 

 sandy hillside with a southern exposure, or the bor- 

 ders of an open or cultivated field. In such a locality 

 their principal food consists chiefly of noxious insects, 

 and hence they, as well as all other harmless snakes, 

 should merit the protection of man instead of being 

 forever an especial target of his insane desire to kill 

 all objects beneath him in the scale of life. 



TO A GAKTER SNAKE. 



Thou art humble 

 And content to crawl 

 Upon the lap of earth : 

 To seek thy food without the brawl 

 And strife, which others, 

 Far above thee in the scale of life, 

 Do use. 



Thou art harmless, 

 And yet upon thy head 

 Has ever been a curse unmerited ; 

 Making of thee a shunned, polluted thing, 

 Although thou art possessed 

 Of neither fang nor sting. 



And even now, 

 In this enlightened age, 

 Man sees thee but to spurn 

 And strike at thy poor form ; 

 And on the printed page 

 Thy name is seldom uttered 

 Save with words of scorn. 



