AUSTRALIAN SNAKES 269 



come after rats and mice and small birds and eggs. 

 Russell's Viper and some of the species of Bitis will also 

 intrude with the same object. 



The sort of place that is likely to harbour such snakes 

 is an old deserted building overgrown with jungle and 

 full of crannies particularly if there is \vater near at 

 hand. One can hardly lay down any rules, except that 

 snakes are not likely to be seen in the dwellings of 

 man if compounds are kept free of jungle, long grass, 

 ant-heaps, dilapidated masonry, &c., and if outhouses, 

 fowl-houses, &c., are not too close and are well looked 

 after. But a thatched roof is always suspicious. 



While on this subject, it is as well to -remember that 

 snakes have certain remorseless enemies, besides those of 

 their own order. In North America a harmless Colubrine, 

 Coronella getula, is said to be one of "the most redoubted 

 enemies of the rattlesnake " ; and in South America two 

 opisthoglyphe Colubrines, Erythrolamprus cesculapii and 

 Rhachidelus brazili are said to live exclusively upon 

 venomous snakes. The hedgehog, the mongoose, and the 

 armadillo, owls, kites, and eagles, and various big lizards, 

 also prey upon snakes. Certain birds have got quite a 

 reputation as snake-killers ; among them are the secretary- 

 bird of South Africa, the big Australian kingfisher known 

 as the " laughing jackass," and in South America the 

 seriema (Cariama cristata), the jaburu stork, and the rhea. 



