VENOMOUS SNAKES— THEIR RARITY. 



617 



dence in Ceylon, of the death of a European which was caused by the bite of one 

 of these reptiles ; and in almost every instance accidents to the natives happened at 

 night, when the animal, having been surprised or trodden on, had inflicted the wound 

 in self-defence. Thus, to avoid danger, the Singhalese, when obliged to leave their 

 houses in the dark, carry a stick with a loose ring, the noise of which, as they strike it 

 on the ground, is suflScient to warn the snakes to leave their path. During his five 

 years' travels through the whole breadth of tropical America, from the Atlantic to the 

 Pacific, M. de Castelnau, although ever on the search, collected no more than ninety- 

 one serpents, of which only twenty-one were poisonous. 



The habits of the venomous snakes, and the external characters by which they are 

 distinguished from the harmless species, likewise tend to diminish the danger to be 

 apprehended from them. Thus, their head is generally flat, broad, lanceolate ; they 

 have an aperture or slit on each cheek, behind the nostrils, and an elongated vertical 

 pupil like many other nocturnal animals. They are also generally slower and more 

 indolent in their motions, and thus are more easily avoided. No venomous snake will 

 ever be found on a tree ; and on quietly approaching one in the forest or in the 

 savanna, it will most likely creep away without disputing the path, as it is not very 

 anxious uselessly to squander the venom which nature gave it as the only means for 

 procuring itself food. 



" There is not much danger in roving amongst snakes," says Waterton, who, from 

 spending many a month in tropical wilds, may justly be called an excellent authority, 

 *' provided only that you have self command. You must never approach them 

 abruptly; if so, you are sure to pay for your rashness; because the idea of self- 

 defence is predominant in every animal, and thus the snake, to defend himself from 

 what he considers an attack upon him, makes the intruder feel the deadly eflfect of his 

 envenomed fangs. The labarri snake is very poisonous, yet I have often approached 

 within two yards of him without fear. I took care to advance very softly and gently, 

 without moving my arms, and he always allowed me to have a fine view of him, 

 without showing the least inclination to make a spring at me. He would appear to 

 keep his eye fixed on me, as though suspicious, but that was all. Sometimes I have 

 taken a stick ten feet long and placed it on the labarri's back ; he would then glide 

 away, without offering resistance. However, when I put the end of the stick abruptly 

 to his head, he immediately opened his mouth, flew at it, and bit it." But although 

 accidents from venomous snakes are comparatively rare, yet the consequences are 

 dreadful when they do take place, and the sight of a cobra or a trigonocephalus pre- 

 paring for its fatal spring may well appall the stoutest heart. 



Prince Maximilian of Neu Wied, having wounded a tapir, was following the traces 

 of his game along with his Indian hunter, when suddenly his companion uttered a loud 

 scream. He had come too near a labarri snake, and the dense thicket prevented his 

 escape. Fortunately the first glance of the distinguished naturalist fell upon the rep- 

 tile, which with extended jaws and projecting fangs was ready to dart upon the Indian, 

 but at the same moment, struck by a ball from the prince's rifle, lay writhing on the 

 ground. The Indian, though otherwise a strong-nerved man, was so paralyzed by fear 

 that it was some time before he could recover his self-possession — a proof, among others, 

 that it is superfluous to attribute a fascinating power to the venomous snakes, as the 

 effects of terror are quite sufficient to explain why smaller animals, unable to flee the 



