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TEXT-BOOK OF ZOOLOGY 



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body, and by extension of the anterior ribs dilating its neck into a disc 

 or hood, so that the spectacular marking is drawn widely apart, the head 

 being at the same time held horizontally, and ready to strike at any 

 moment. It is evident from this that the 

 spectacle marking is designed for the pur- 

 pose of alarming an enemy. The super- 

 stitious Hindus hold this animal sacred, 

 and do not venture to kill it, which ex- 

 plains its abundance in some districts of 

 India. The Indian " snake-charmers," who 

 thoroughly understand the habits of the 

 creature, can make it perform dancing 

 movements — i.e., alternately to raise itself 

 into the fighting attitude, and to sink to 

 the resting position ; they are not even 

 afraid to touch the hissing creature with 

 their hands and mouth without having 

 previously extracted its poison fangs. It 

 reaches a length of about 6 feet. 



Rattlesnake alarmed nv Pkumi-Buck. (About one-sixth natural aim.) 



The most notorious of the poisonous snakes of North America is the 

 Rattlesnake (Crotalw riurisms). Its scaly coat is of a greyish-brown 



