14 THE LAND-MARKS OF 



a month, even in the winter months, and is cer- 

 tainly blind at this time ; but the fangs are not 

 invariably shed synchronously with the shedding 

 of the skin. I have seen the sloughed skin 

 entire from head to tail together with the corneal 

 layer intact. In captivity, however, when the 

 reptile has been deprived of water, the skin -has 

 been shed in patches, which came off easily when 

 the snake was handled. In a state of nature, I 

 doubt very much whether the casting of the skin 

 takes place nearly so frequently as when the rep- 

 tiles are in captivity. I have occasionally observed 

 that birds line their nests with the sloughed skins 

 Power of of suakcs. As to the power of snakes to fascinate 



fascination •*■ 



said to be small animals. Weir Mitchell remarks : — " After 



possessed ' 



by snakes, s^gh numerous and long-continued opportunities 

 of observation, it might be supposed that I 

 should be prepared to speak authoritatively as 

 to the still disputed power of the snake to fasci- 

 nate small animals. If the former exist at all, 

 it is probable that it would only be made use 

 of when the serpent required its aid to secure 

 food." He does not appear to think that it 

 exists ; nor do I, for the same reasons. He says 

 " I have very often put animals, such as birds, 

 pigeons, guineapigs, mice and dogs into the cage 



