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REPTILES 
Large snakes like the black snake or blue racer of the United 
States, the boa constrictor of South America, and the python 
(pl'thon) of Asia are constrictors. They are able to wind 
their bodies around their prey and to crush it to death. 
The most deadly snake in the world is the cobra (ko'bra) 
of India, where thousands of the natives die annually from 
its bite. 
Snakes swallow their food whole, and as the teeth are 
used merely for holding their prey, they point backwards. 
Figure 88. — Garter Snake — Harmless. 
Fear of Snakes. — In the case of many grown-up people 
there is a senseless fear of even the smallest snake. Small 
children are seldom afraid of snakes until some older person 
tells them that snakes are poisonous or that they will be 
bitten if they handle them. As a matter of fact the com¬ 
mon snakes of the garden will not bite when carefully handled 
but rather seem to like to be handled. When one stops to 
think that snakes are cold-blooded while the hands are warm 
