CHAPTER XIII 



PHOTOGRAPHING REPTILES, ETC. 



If one can but overcome the instinctive abhor- 

 rence and fear which most people have of snakes, 

 and learn to know them as the beautiful and 

 harmless creatures which most of them are, he 

 will find that they make the most interesting sub- 

 jects possible for nature photography. They are, 

 in every respect, preeminently graceful, and every 

 position which they assume is a naturally artistic 

 pose, for a snake is never awkward in any of his 

 movements. 



Of course, I realize that with many people the 

 horror of a snake is too deep-seated to be easily 

 eradicated, and I have known some otherwise 

 courageous people whom the mere sight of a 

 snake would affect most powerfully. To expect 

 these people to handle one would be entirely out 

 of the question. In fact, I know one man, who 

 has lived very close to nature all of his life, who 

 would rather walk a mile out of his way than en- 

 counter one of these creatures. 



Since time immemorial the snake has been 

 the symbol of all that is most vile and obnoxious, 



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