CURIOUS BELIEFS REGARDING 



SNAKES. 



In nearly all countries that I have visited there exist 

 many curious beliefs regarding snakes, and none is 

 more prevalent than that certain kinds will suck 

 milk from the udders of goats and cows. In fact, I 

 have lately seen a woodcut, supposed to be old — 

 aged nearly two hundred years — in which a very 

 demure, but matronly cow is standing placidly 

 chewing the cud, while ?. snake, obviously about six 

 feet long, has her hind legs strongly enfolded by 

 several laps of its body, while in the reptile's mouth 

 is one of several large teats, apparently supplying 

 willingly an abundance of the lacteal fluid. The 

 drawing is a very coarse etching, but it unquestion- 

 ably represents what the artist desired to portray. 

 This itself, even if other proofs were wanting, would 

 go to confirm that the story of snakes sucking 

 mammals is not a fanc> ^f modern days, but had its 

 origin many years ago. This I c'o not quote as an 

 argument of its truth, but as a curious circumstance 

 that, after so long a lapse of time, plenty of people 

 at the present day can yet be found who have a firm 

 belief in such deeds taking place. 



Another curious but firm persuasion also is 

 common, viz., that there is a species of snake which 

 takes its tail in its mouth, thus forming a ring, and 

 pursues its victims relentlessly at the most wonderful 

 pace. At the pretty village of Parish, on the southern 

 side of the Vaal River, Orange Free State, in a 



