The Wit of the Wild 



r 



good taste, or because they might possibly 

 shock nervous people. The average rustic is 

 not built in that considerate way. We learnt 

 afterward that a man had encountered these 

 reptiles here as he came along in the early morn- 

 ing. One was coiled up, he related, and the 

 other was circling about it. They paid no at- 

 tention to him, and after watching them a while 

 he destroyed them. 



It is probable that these two snakes were fe- 

 males, about to give birth to their young. The 

 progeny, usually no more than five to seven in 

 number, are not produced from eggs, as in the 

 case of most harmless snakes, but, some time 

 in September, are born alive and very much 

 alive, for they exhibit after a few hours all 

 the activity and animosity of their parents, 

 coiling and striking at anything which threat- 

 ens them, with complete knowledge of how to 

 use their fangs. When hard pressed, however, 

 they will retreat for safety into the mouth of 

 the mother, to reappear when the coast is 

 clear. 



After that experience none of us, men or 



