102 
CREATURES OF MYSTERY 
and the fading together; and a little child shall lead them.” 
“And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall 
lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.” 
“And the suckling child shall play on the hole of the asp, 
and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’s 
den.” 
Yes, we have learned of many instances where tiny children 
were left unguarded by their parents for a time, to return later 
and find them playing with one of these deadly creatures, and 
apparently thoroughly enjoying the experience. It seems that 
when children are left alone within their range of vision or 
hearing they come near and institute an investigation. They 
appear to be able to tell whether or not the child is afraid of 
them, and whether or not the child would in any way menace 
them. More will be said hereinafter as to how they acquire 
such knowledge, but it is evident that they are sure of their 
ground. Sometimes when they find small children alone, they 
boldly crawl up and coil beside them for innocent pastime. 
Can you imagine the scene, however, should some unsuspecting 
mother return for her child and find her little one playing with 
such a dreadful creature? It has happened on some such occa¬ 
sions that the child was patting the serpent’s back and head 
with its bare hands as the latter shrank from such caressing, 
but visibly enjoying the association and manifesting not the 
slightest intention of harming the child. Indeed, there is plenty 
of evidence to support the statement that these creaures re¬ 
spond to kind treatment, and in a way encourage it when they 
feel that they are not endangering themselves in so doing. 
There is nothing in the child’s conduct to enrage them, and 
they are sufficiently keen of mind or instinct to realize that 
such kindness is not likely to be found in man. 
It must be quite evident to the reader that no one individual 
could possibly hope to witness all the unusual incidents related 
herein, even though he were blessed with the length of years 
of Methuselah, and had spent all of his time in wild infested 
territory. 
We personally knew an old gentleman who was the proud 
possessor of a large male specimen which he kept for exhibi- 
