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laborious pursuit. In stations where a reward is given by 

 the authorities for every cobra that is killed, other snakes 

 will often be brought in, and an ari'angement with the police 

 will bring these to any one willing to give a small reward. 

 Where public money is not devoted to this philanthropic 

 object the best way is to make generally known amongst 

 toddy-drawers, fishermen, grass-cutters and Indian camp-fol- 

 lowers in general, that a reward will be given for every snake 

 that is brought in, varying in amount according to the rarity 

 of the snake, whether it be in good condition, and alive or 

 dead. By giving an extra reward for live specimens, all 

 unnecessary destruction of the harmless common snakes will 

 be avoided ; and the attention of the snake-catchers can be 

 diverted from these kinds by having some specimens kept 

 for their inspection in the verandah ; live snakes or skins in 

 the case of the larger kinds, preserved specimens of the 

 smaller. Notice can thus be given that these kinds will 

 not obtain any reward. 



I may here observe that Indians, those of the South at 

 least, to my certain knowledge know very little about any 

 snake but the cobra, have no names for any but three or 

 four, and can give nothing but erroneous information. 



The Moors know nothing about snakes, not troubling 

 themselves about ai^ branch of zoology unconnected with 

 sport ; while the veneration of the Hindus being concen- 

 trated in the typical nagam they know little about any 

 other snake. Snake-charmers and jugglers tell a lot of 

 nonsense ; and low Indians wishing to show off their intelli- 

 gence before master, find little trouble in evolving from their 

 inner consciousness a name for any snake pointed out to 

 them. They have perceived that it is a point of honour 

 with most Englishmen to have a name ready for every strange 

 beast, and they humour this weakness by having a name 

 ready for every snake, and also a wonderful account of the 

 deadly effects produced by its bite or by a blow of its tajl. 



