The Zoologist— October, 1809. 1871 



unwelcome an audience as myself and my intelligent dog Pat, we con- 

 cealed ourselves behind a clump of thick bushy wattles. Upon our 

 retning the serpent regained confidence, and, instantly creeping from 

 his dark hiding-place, proceeded to entwine himself around a small 

 branch of the tree ; whereon firmly fixing himself, he uncoiled the 

 upper half of his scaly pliant body, and commenced a series of the 

 most graceful movements imaginable. The poor infatuated minas 

 continued to scream, moan, and flutter round their insidious adversary, 

 gradually drawing nearer and nearer, perching themselves within 

 twelve or fifteen inches of him, with outstanding feathers and piteous 

 cries ; and panting as if at the last stage of life, they yielded one after 

 another to the tender mercies and elastic swallow of the horrid reptile 

 which devoured them feathers and all until he could absolutely hold 

 no more; but not the least exciting part of the scene was yet to come ; 

 for the wily mesmerist, though he could devise means to destroy 

 other created things, had not the foresight to provide against the 

 possibility of his own destruction : he had satisfied his appetite— had 

 levelled m the death-pangs of his poor victims, but, cunning as he 

 was, he proved his deficiency in military tactics. Wise generals 

 always see their way clear for a safe retreat before proceeding on an 

 enterprise: not so this outwitted adder; he had luxuriated to such a 

 degree upon innocent minas that, when desirous of reluming to his 

 slrong-hold, the small aperture through which he had so cleverly 

 squeezed his yielding body, not being of the same elastic composition 

 as his own, refused re-admitiance to his now bloated and overgorged 

 fi-ame. After repeated trials, however, he became aware of his 

 dilemma, and commenced his descent by entwining his nether ex- 

 tremity round the lowermost branches and twigs successively, until 

 he had reached the last; then, swinging head downwards, apparently 

 in a very undecided mood as to the propriety of casting himself to the 

 hard ground underneath, he waved about for several minutes. In the 

 meantime I had rapidly cut three or four good waddies (native throw- 

 ing-sticks), and forthwith commenced a sharp fusillade at the vibrating 

 foe. One lucky hit brought him down by a run, and in the next 

 minute the flock of bereaved minas were deeply avenged." 



Talking of antidotes for snake bites, and before giving the results of 

 the experiments by Dr. Shortl (which experiments, 1 believe, are still 

 going on), I may quote a letter which appeared anent the subject in 

 the * Pioneer' newspaper at Allahabad, in January, 1868 :— 



" Sir,— That there are more things in heaven and earth than are 



