ON SNAKES. 



273 



of mice. I say summer ; for when the heats have 

 passed away, it retires under - ground, there to 

 slumher in profound repose until the invigorating 

 sun of April, warms it into action. Our other 

 snake is the well-known viper, armed with two 

 small poison-fangs, which, by the way, are very 

 seldom used. 



The blind worm, wrongly so called, is harm- 

 lessness itself. 



The young naturalist, in his rambles through 

 the country, has but little to apprehend from the 

 viper. He may pass close to one, a thousand times, 

 and if he does not actually put his foot upon it, he 

 may be quite sure, that the viper will never use 

 its fangs against him, nor even shew them by way 

 of menace. 



When we consider the immense extent of tropical 

 America, and view its endless woods, we are forced 

 to admit that snakes are comparatively few. I have 

 seen more monkeys in one day, than I have found 

 snakes during my entire sojourn in the forests. 

 When I did fall in with them, (and they were not 

 wanted for dissection,) whether they were poisonous 

 or harmless, I would contemplate them for a few 

 minutes, ere I proceeded, and would say, " Gen- 

 tlemen, of rainbow- colors, be not alarmed at my 

 intrusion. I am not come hither to attempt your 



Y 



