THEIB NATUEE AND EFFECTS. 161 



Another consideration to be regarded is, -whether there 

 is any special season in which snakes can be destroyed 

 with advantage. In the cold weather the reptiles are 

 torpid, and do little or no injury ; but from March to 

 September the loss of human life steadily increases. 

 The rainy season, commencing at the end of June, driving 

 them from their holes, naturally increases the mortality 

 greatly. It might, therefore, be assumed that the rainy 

 season is the period when they should be chiefly 

 attacked. But if we study the natural history of the 

 cobra, we shall find that the female usually lays her 

 eggs in July. The great aim, therefore, should be to 

 destroy as many of the reptiles as possible before the 

 eggs are laid, remembering that every female captured 

 then is equal to very many later on, and that vipers, 

 which, of course, bring forth their young ahve, are even 

 much more prolific. The months, therefore, of May and 

 June, and part of July, are those in which the destruc- 

 tion of snakes is likely to be attended with the greatest 

 results. This would, in fact, be inverting the policy of 

 a " close season," which has been found so successful all 

 o^jer the world in favouring the production of game. 



The amount to be paid for each snake must clearly 

 depend upon the cost of labour locally. Practically, 

 but little difficulty can be experienced in determining it, 

 as an insufficient sum will have no result in causing 

 snake* to be brought in. But the effect of any system 

 oould, in regard to its ultimate success, not be ascer- 



11 



