Occasional Notes. 337 
a rule, and markedly the most poisonous snakes, 
seem singularly reluftant to bite, owing perhaps more 
particularly to their sluggishness — a fa6l borne out by 
those who have seen, or have had much practical dealings 
with poisonous snakes, and in whom the commonly 
prevailing horror of these animals is almost or quite 
unknown. A typical case, familiar to most colonists, 
may be mentioned in CHARLES WATERTON, who it will 
be remembered, without hesitation, transferred several 
specimens of rattlesnake from one box to another, by 
placing his naked hand into the box and taking out one 
specimen after another. Other cases, perhaps more 
widely known and wonderful, may be adduced in the 
so-called "snake-charmers" of India, who are accustomed 
to handle with almost constant impunity, and even to 
excite to a marvellous extent, the cobras of India — 
snakes, which, for their size, are the most deadly know r n. 
In faft, the account of the snake-charmers' exhibition, 
under Dr. Wall, before the Prince of Wales, reads 
more like a magician's tale, than like the record of the 
fearlessness of men handling and exciting animals, each 
one of which was capable of infli6ling sudden death on a 
large number of the people present — and one of these 
snakes taken at random at the Prince's request, who had 
expressed a doubt as to their being in poisoning condi- 
tion, was made to discharge some of its poison in proof 
of its condition. 
In place of the vague and unsatisfactory statements 
offered as to the efficacy of inoculation, before credence 
can be given, it must be established beyond doubt that 
persons so inoculated are bitten with impunity by un- 
doubted poisonous snakes in functional condition, and 
