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ON SNAKES. 



the snake casts its slough, this scale comes away 

 with it, and is replaced by a new one on the new 

 skin. The cast-off slough always appears inside 

 out. I am not a believer in the evil eye of snakes. 

 Their eyes are very beautiful ; and no doubt, they 

 would be much admired, did the beholder lay aside 

 his prejudices, and consider that the snake before 

 him, has no intention to create alarm, nor to 

 meditate a work of mischief. 



In no instance have I seen a snake act on the 

 offensive. But, when roused into action by the 

 fear of sudden danger, 'tis then, that in self-defence, 

 a snake will punish the intruder by a prick (not 

 a laceration) from the poison-fang, fatal, or not 

 fatal, according to its size and virulence. "Noli 

 me tangere." Do not touch me, with intent to 

 harm me, is a most suitable motto for a snake. 

 This has been my opinion of snakes ever since 

 I have had anything to do with them. The con- 

 cluding adventure in this essay, will shew the 

 reader, that I have not been labouring under a 

 delusion. 



Our own snakes, here in England, are scarcely 

 worth notice, so far as their venom is concerned. 

 One species, which I designate under the name 

 of adder, is a harmless little fellow, and very useful 

 during the summer months, in clearing the fields 



