"There are poisonous snakes in some countries much larger and much more to be feared than ours," he continued. "In India and Africa are poisonous snakes known as vipers, which can raise up and spread out the forward part of the body into a broad disk. The spectacled viper or cobra of India is one of these. It has a black line resembling a pair of spectacles about the broad portion of its disk. From this snake the jugglers of India draw out the fangs and then teach it to dance. The asp of Egypt is also a viper which has been noted in history. By pressing this snake on the nape of the neck the jugglers of Egypt used to throw it in an immovable position, which they called turning it into a rod.
"Here is a picture of one of our rattlesnakes. It gets its name from a sort of rattle which it has at the end of its tail. The rattle is formed of a number of loose bones, which it shakes when it is angry."SUMMARY
The poisonous snakes have two long fangs in the upper jaw, and poison-bags at the roots of them. Their bite either kills their victim or makes it insensible. The forked tongue is harmless.
Lesson 23
The Non-Poisonous Snakes
