135 



you think he is quite secure ; therefore, take care to place 

 your finger and thumb on either side of the neck, never 

 above and below it. 



A cobra standing at bay can be readily captured ; put the 

 end of a stick gently across his head and bear it down to the 

 ground by a firm and gradual pressure ; he will not resist ; 

 then place the stick horizontally across his neck and take 

 him up. You must not dawdle about this ; sharp is the 

 word in dealing with snakes, and they have as much respect 

 for firm and kind treatment as contempt for timidity and 

 irresolution. When, however, an active snake carries on a 

 running fight, the only way to capture him is to give him a 

 tap across the back sufficiently hard to take the go out of 

 him without injuring him. If you wish to capture your 

 specimen alive, err rather on the side of mercy and see how 

 gentle a blow will suffice to put him hors de combat. Even 

 if you want the snake for the museum and not for the 

 menagerie, it is still important to secure him with as little 

 injury as possible. 



The juggler or snake-eshibitor keeps his snakes in flat 

 baskets of just sufficient size to hold a cobra when coiled up. 

 However convenient this basket may be for portability and 

 exhibition purposes, it is not suitable for other snakes than 

 the cobra, and it is only admissible as a temporary lodging. 

 The best habitation for snakes would doubtless be a verandah 

 fenced to a sufficient height with wire gauze ; it might be 

 divided into compartments in order to separate snakes of 

 ophiophagous habits from the rest of the community, and be 

 provided with water and shrubs sufficiently to gratify the 

 desire for coolness and shade. Such a serpentarium would 

 enable interesting observations to be made on the habits of 

 snakes.* The floor should be strewn with sand ; it would 



'''' Observations rega>rding the casting of skin and teeth, the laying, 

 incubation and hatching of eggs, the oviparous or ovoviviparous 

 nature of various snakes are very much needed. 



