CONTROL BY THE EYE, OR WILL. 409 



bridle, thence to the nose-piece, and grasping it firmly, 

 will enable one to approach some horses with safety, which 

 it would be dangerous to go near without. 



It is an undoubted fact that a certain class of snakes 

 can so charm birds as to disable and catch them, and there 

 are well-authenticated cases of their charming children and 

 men. An intelligent lady, in whom the writer has perfect 

 confidence, stated that in two instances she had seen small 

 birds charmed by a black snake. Once, when stepping 

 over a log, she saw a bird in the act of flying into the open 

 mouth of a large black snake which lay coiled upon the 

 ground at the opposite side. 



I copy here another instance of this kind from the 

 Petersburg (Va.) Index-Appeal: — 



"The Snake's Ability to Charm. 



" A veritable instance of the peculiar fascination which the 

 snake exerts, was witnessed a few days ago within a short dis- 

 tance of our city. The gentleman who saw this says he was walk- 

 ing leisui'ely along the road when his attention was directed to 

 the movements of a brown thrush which Avas flitting about near 

 a small plum bush, and, at intervals, giving a cry as of distress. 

 He walked up to the bush, supposing he would find a brood of 

 young birds. He looked carefully, but saw nothing, and was 

 walking off, when he noticed that the thrush had returned to the* 

 bush from which he had frightened it. He waited a moment to 

 watch its movements, when he saw it fly down on the ground be- 

 neath the plum. There it stood still a short time, then began to 

 circle around the bush, still crying in its peculiar tones. This 

 circling was kept up for a while, and then the thrush seemed 

 gradually to weaken, and at length stood perfectly still — immov- 

 able, with its wings partly open, and its head bent forward. He 

 drew neai'er to the bush, when he heard an ominous hiss, and, 

 looking down under the plum he saw a large black snake coiled 

 up, and about to spring upon the bird. He frightened the snake 

 away and picked up the bird, which made no effort to escape, and 

 seemed powerless. In a few minutes, however, the bird revived, 

 and shortly afterward flew off" 



- It is also a fact that some men, by an effort of the will, 

 can control others, as shown by the art of what is termed 



