Some Snake Delusions.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 78, 29 November 1884, Page 5

Some Snake Delusions.

Tiik keeper of the reptile specimens in the Smithsonian Instituto contradicts much of the popular belief as to snakes. Some of tho most dreaded have no existence. The hoop sdakc, which takes the end of its tail in its mouth and rolls over and over like a hoop, killing everything it touches with its venom, and tho blow snake, the breath of which i^ deadly, are fictitious. As serpents move about they are constantly feeling ahead with their tongue, and the forward thrust and peculiar forked appearance of this organ has given riho to tho false idea that with it tho stinging is done. In North America there aro but throe specios of poisonous snakos — the rattlesnake, tho copper-head or mocassin, and the coral. Thore are about thirty varieties of theso species altogether. The copperhead is probably the most dangerous, as it is vicious, and never gives warning of any kind beforo stt iking. The rattlesnake, though more poisonous than either of the others, will rattle at the approach of anything, and try to get away unless brought to bay. The coral is much smaller, and is a native of the Southern States.