ON SNAKES. 



267 



All snakes have these teeth, used only for snatch 

 and swallow ; as mastication, or grinding of food 

 in the mouth cannot be performed by snakes. 

 The prey is laid hold .of, by these crooked little 

 teeth, in the first instance, after which, it is slowly 

 swallowed, without having undergone any change 

 since it entered the mouth of the serpent. 



At the root of the two poison-fangs, are smaller 

 ones, but much too pliable and tender to inflict 

 a wound. They appear to be a provision by 

 nature, in case that accident or disease should 

 render the mature fangs unservicable. 



Take away these mature fangs^ and immediately 

 the snake is rendered harmless. 



Those amusing knaves who profess to be serpent 

 charmers, always take care to have these fangs 

 extracted, before they exhibit their wonderful pow- 

 ers in the presence of an assembled multitude. M y 

 life upon it, — none but a devil incarnate would 

 dare to put his hand into the mouth of a snake 

 possessing these fangs uninjured. A bite would be 

 the certain consequence, and either death or excru- 

 ciating pain, the result. 



Snake charmers, taking advantage of the uni- 

 versal horror in which all serpents are held ; 

 contrive to manage the thing to a nicety, either by 

 extracting the poisonous fangs, or by making free 



