THE ROCK SNAKE OF INDIA. 
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Asia, and are generally found in India. The common Rock Snake of India ( Python molurus) 
is a good example of this genus. The natives believe that the little spurs are useful in lighting, 
and therefore cut them off whenever they capture the reptile. It is the Pedda-Poda of the 
Hindoos. It is not one of the largest of its kind, usually attaining a length of ten or eleven 
feet, and not being held in much dread. A fowl that was inclosed in a cage with one of these 
Serpents, soon obtained the mastery over her terrible companion, and was seen quietly pecking 
at its head. 
One of these reptiles that was kept at the gardens of the Zoological Society, once made a 
curious mistake while being fed, and had well-nigh sacrificed the life of its keeper. The man 
had approached the reptile with a fowl in his hand and presented it as usual to the Snake. The 
ROCK SNAKE OP INDIA .— Python molurus. 
Serpent darted at the bird, but as it was just then shedding its skin and nearly blind, it 
missed its aim, and instead of seizing the bird, grasped the keeper’ s left thumb, and instinct- 
ively flung its coils around his arms and neck, as is customary when the animal seized is of 
considerable size. 
The keeper tried to force the Snake’s head from its hold, but could not reach it, as he was 
bound in the folds of the Snake. He then cast himself on the ground in order to battle to the 
greatest advantage, but would probably have succumbed to the fearful pressure, had not two 
keepers providentially entered the room, and by breaking away the Serpent’s teeth released the 
man from his terrible assailant. Except the fright and a few wounds from the Serpent’ s teeth, 
no evil results ensued. The representation in our picture is one-tenth of the actual size 
of the specimen from which it was drawn. 
