224 WILD LIPE IN CHINA. 



as the. Hu-cha-lien, or fire-coloured chain -snake, the mark- 

 ings of which have a reddish tinge. This is said to be 

 poisonous, but I can neither confirm nor deny the native 

 belief. Only once have I come across a specimen of the 

 curious snake known as the "Iron-wire snake," one of the 

 burrowing family. The Chinese have a belief about these 

 that if they coil themselves round a man's finger or the tails 

 of animals it is impossible to remove them, that strangul- 

 ation of the member results, and sloughing takes place till it 

 drops off. "The China Medical Missionary Journal", Vol. XV. 

 p. 303 gives the following description: "The snake is about 

 6 inches long, shaped much like a common earth worm, has 

 about the same diameter, a trifle smaller perhaps, and darker 

 in colour." This answers precisely to the specimen I saw. 

 That described was seen in Foochow, mine in Chekiang, on 

 the hills at Chapoo. When first I saw it, my ten year old 

 son was nonchalantly turning it over with his naked toe! I 

 did not know at the time that all these burrowing snakes are 

 harmless. The Chinese do not resent the presence of snakes 

 in their houses sometimes, probably because of their rat- 

 killing powers. I spent a month once in a Chinese house 

 amongst the hills of Northern Chekiang, and was assured 

 that there was a snake living within a dozen feet of mj- bed. 

 I never saw it, however, and the thought of it did not worry 

 me in the least. Pootoo Island, the outermost of the Chusan 

 Group is noted for its snakes. Ten days which I spent there 

 many years ago discovered many. One had slid into a small 

 gravel pit about two or three feet deep, from which, owing 

 to the friable sides, it could not escape. It was about a yard 

 long, very dark in colour, with red spots which glowed like 

 coals of fire when I teased it. When killed it turned out to 

 be quite innocuous. I once watched through a whole day 

 when traversing the China Sea for sea snakes, and saw a 

 large number, especially amongst those long streaks of float- 

 ing scum which sometimes for miles cover the water. They 

 varied between three and about eight feet in length apparent- 

 ly — fat unctuous, repulsive creatures looking as \'enomous 

 as they probably are. 



Southern China, of which I have no very intimate 

 knowledge, is said to be rich in reptilia of almost all sorts. 

 Of the reptile life of Hongkong we have, of course, a more 

 or less complete knowledge. There are at least seven 

 species of snakes, one of them a python which is common 

 but, as a rule, not of any very large size considering its kind. 

 Occasionally, however, we hear of one large enough to cause 

 note to be taken of it in the press. Cobras are numerous in 

 some parts. Some years ago one was found on the verandah 

 of Gen. Black's house on the Peak. The cats were playing 



