SNAKES AND BOTANIZING. 63 



this unfriendly region. A neighboring window 

 had proved a tempting opening, as it was kept 

 slightly lowered at the top for ventilation 

 throughout the summer. 



"Still somewhat shaken by her experience, 

 she completed her toilet for retiring and was 

 soon comfortably established in bed. Presently 

 she heard a dull thud on the floor, as of some- 

 thing falling or jumping from the window. This 

 time she did not go to the door, but yelled lust- 

 ily from her bed. Her friends came quickly 

 to see what had befallen her. ^n hearing her 

 story they searched the floor and found under 

 the bureau a huge snake, evidently the mate 

 of the one which had met its end while posing 

 as a pin-cushion. It was speedily despatched." 

 "And the poor girl? Did she get any sleep 

 that night?" 



"I can not say. But do you never see any 

 large snakes? That tiny one was not worth 

 mentioning. I have heard you talk of swamps ; 

 have you seen no snakes?" 



"The farm where we are going this after- 

 noon is said to be just swarming with snakes in 

 the swamps. The man who ploughed the land 

 tells that one not less than five feet long chased 

 him, but he killed it. The farmer's wife saw one 

 come up out of the swamp to steal her chickens ; 

 but her husband happened to be handy and he 



