THE HOUSE SNAKES. 



93 



the Brown House Snake, are the two best known. They are called 

 House Snakes because they are so frequently found in and about 

 the dwelhngs of man, attracted thereto by the presence of mice 

 and young rats on which they feed. In return for this great 

 service men ignorantly kill them at sight, although they are as 

 harmless as any innocent lizard. These snakes are simply 

 invaluable about farmhouses, and are much more serviceable 

 than cats, for they can follow the destructive little rodents right 

 down to their secret hiding-places. House snakes are quite 

 harmless, and it would be well for all farmers to learn to identify 

 them ^vith a view of protecting and shielding them from harm^ 

 In the House Snake the farmer has a very valuable ally against 

 his enemies the rats and mice. 



Late one night at a certain dwelling in Port Elizabeth, close 

 to my house, there was 

 a great commotion. 

 It seems three of the 

 inmates returned 

 about midnight from a 

 party. Arriving on 

 the landing half-way 

 up, they saw the form 

 of a snake by the hght 

 cast by the candle. 



Holding a con- 

 sultation, the three 

 retired below to seek 

 weapons. Meanwhile the landlady, hearing the unusual com- 

 ■ motion, sallied forth, accompanied by her two daughters. 

 Cautiously peering down the stairs, they descended step by step. 

 Without previous warning, a loud hiss struck upon the strained 

 ears of the ladies. The form of a snake rapidly vanishing from 

 view behind a pedestal, caused such a succession of shrieks that 

 I bounded out of bed, hurried on a dressing-gown and rushed 

 out of my house to the rescue, fully beheving some burglars 

 were committing murder. I did not knock. I just went in. 

 Cautiously stealing up the stairs were three young men armed with 

 weapons. I was much relieved to learn the trouble was only a 

 snake. 



By the time it was killed there was many a dent in the 



Fig. 41. — -A tame Brown House Snake swallowing 

 young dead rat. 



