CHAPTER XIV. 



Items of Snake Knowledge. 



a summary in brief form of the contents of the book 

 and additional information. 



Snakes evolved from Lizard-like creatures with legs. 



Fossil remains of Flying Reptiles have been discovered. They had 

 membraneous wings and tails, hke those of bats. Their long bill-like 

 jaws were toothed. 



Birds evolved from reptiles. The reptile developed membraneous 

 wings. Later, feathers were evolved. 



Snakes are reptiles. Birds evolved from reptiles, therefore birds are 

 relatives of snakes. 



Snakes are found all over Tropical and Temperate portions of the 

 world, excepting New Zealand. 



No traces of snakes have ever been found in New Zealand. 



In South Africa there are Burrowing Lizards which have no trace of 

 legs. They shine like burnished copper. Their tails are blunt. They 

 are usually mistaken for snakes. 



Some snakes lay eggs. Others give birth to young. 



Snakes' eggs have no hard shell like those of birds. The covering of 

 the egg is soft, but tough and leathery. 



Snakes lay their eggs in warm places, such as holes in the ground, and 

 amongst decaying vegetation. When vegetable matter is decaying it 

 generates heat sufficient to hatch snakes' eggs. 



Snakes only have one active lung. It is a long hollow tube. 



A snake's heart will continue beating, sometimes for fifteen minutes or 

 more, after its removal from the body. 



If a snake's head be cut off, its heart will continue to beat, often for 

 a whole day. 



Snakes hiss by expelling air forcibly through the glottis and nostrils. 

 They do not make any actual sound. 



Snakes crawl by moving their ribs. Also by wriggling. The ribs 

 operate the shields on the abdomen. These shields are elevated and their 

 edges grip the ground, tree, or whatever the reptiles crawl over. 



A man may become immune to the bite of any particular kind of snake 

 by injecting himself with venom of the same species. He must start 

 with a very small dose, and gradually increase it. Such an experiment 

 is not to be recommended. It might prove fatal. 



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