the Western Worlds. The former infests the rivers of Africa and Asia,
one species at least belonging to Australia. Some of the best known
varieties are those of the river Nile, the Gavial of the Ganges being
also among the more familiar species. These formidable and unwieldy
monsters grow to an immense size, sometimes attaining to a length of
twenty-five feet. Their enormous jaws and innumerable sharp teeth (they
sometimes number a hundred) give them a terrible appearance, while their
hard scaly coats are invulnerable against ordinary attack. Their point
of weakness is their unwieldy character, taking advantage of which the
natives will dive beneath them and stab them with knives in vulnerable
parts. The huntsman aims at their eyes as being the nearest approach to
their brains. Mungo Park relates that one of his guides across the river
Gambia was suddenly seized by a Crocodile and pulled under the water;
upon which the negro thrust his fingers into the animal's eyes with such
violence that it quitted its hold, but seizing him again, he resorted to
the same expedient and with more success, as it again released him,
appeared stupified, and then swam down the river. This man reached the
bank bleeding very much, with long and deep wounds in his thighs, which
incapacitated him for travel for six days. The crocodile lays an
enormous number of eggs on the banks of its native rivers, but most of
these are prevented from maturing by the birds and animals which prey
upon them. Mrs. Bowdich tells an amusing story of a merchant who packed
some crocodiles' eggs in sand for shipment to England and placed the
barrel containing them with other goods in his warehouse. Strange and
unaccountable noises, attracted attention to the spot, when it was
discovered that the eggs had become hatched and the young crocodiles
were quite ready to assume the responsibilities of life. The natives
fled in terror, and the merchant had to take speedy measures for
destroying his unexpected brood. Some species of the crocodile have been
tamed or partially so, the sacred crocodiles being among these.
Accustomed to be fed regularly by the same hands they gradually become
familiar with their priestly attendants, and to some extent obedient to
their commands. Mungo Park says:--"The crocodiles of the Congo appear to
be of a smaller species, and not so numerous as those at Old Calabar,
where they continually float past the shipping like large grey pieces of
timber, and are so bold that they frequently seize people in the small
canoes. In Old Calabar river, I once observed a crocodile swimming with
a large cat-fish in its mouth to the opposite shore. It held the fish by
the head, whilst the body was thrown into a perpendicular position. I
watched it with the spy-glass until it had dragged the fish upon the mud
bank, and commenced its meal."
The Alligator.
The Alligator of which there are some ten or twelve species known, is
found exclusively in America. The Mississippi Alligator is one of the
most familiar of these. The Alligator is smaller than the crocodile,
which it much resembles in form and habit, though specimens have been
met with which measure twenty-two feet in length. The Alligator is
naturally most abundant in tropical regions. Captain Brown says: "In the
height of the dry season in torrid regions all animated nature pants
with consuming thirst. A party of wood cutters, English and Irish, went
on one occasion to hunt in the neighbourhood of a lake called Pies Pond
in Beef Island, one of the smaller islands of the Bay of Campeachy. To
this pond the wild cattle repaired in herds to drink, and here the
hunters lay in wait for them. The chase had been prosecuted with great
success for a week, when an Irishman of the party going into the water
during the day, stumbled upon an alligator, which seized him by the
knee. His cries alarmed his companions, who fearing he had been seized
by the Spaniards, to whom the island belonged, instead of affording
assistance, fled from the huts which they had erected. The Irishman
seeing no appearance of help, with happy presence of mind (a quality
which the natives of that country possess in an eminent degree) quietly
waited till the alligator loosened his teeth to take a new and surer
hold; and when it did so, snatched away his knee, interposing the
butt-end of his gun in its stead, which the animal seized so firmly that
it was jerked out of the man's hand and carried off. He then crawled up
a neighbouring tree, again shouting after his comrades, who now found
courage to return." Mr. Waterton in his "Wanderings" says, "One Sunday
evening, some years ago, as I was walking with Don Felipe de Ynciarte,
governor of Augustura, on the bank of the Oroönque, 'Stop here a minute
or two, Don Carlos,' said he to me, 'while I recount a sad accident. One
fine evening last year, as the people of Augustura were sauntering up
and down here, in the Alameda, I was within twenty yards of this place,
when I saw a large Cayman rush out of the river, seize a man, and carry
him down, before any one had power to assist him. The screams of the
poor fellow were terrible as the Cayman was running off with him; he
plunged in the river with his prey; we instantly lost sight of him, and
never saw or heard him more.'"
A Tame Alligator.
That the Alligator is amenable to kindness is shown by the following
account of a tame specimen, which we quote from Mr. Jesse. He says, "The
most singular instance of attachment between two animals, whose nature
and habits were most opposite, was related to me by a person on whose
veracity I can place the greatest reliance. Before he took up his abode
at Hampden-court, he had resided for nine years in the American States,
where he superintended the execution of some extensive works for the
American government. One of these works consisted in the erection of a
beacon in a swamp in one of the rivers, where he caught a young
alligator. This animal he made so perfectly tame, that it followed him
about the house like a dog, scrambling up the stairs after him, and
showing much affection and docility. Its great favourite, however, was a
cat, and the friendship was mutual. When the cat was reposing herself
before the fire, (this was at New York) the alligator would lay himself
down, place his head upon the cat, and in this attitude go to sleep. If
the cat was absent, the alligator was restless; but he always appeared
happy when the cat was near him. The only instance in which he showed
any ferocity was in attacking a fox, which was tied up in the yard.
Probably, however, the fox resented some playful advances, which the
other had made, and thus called forth the anger of the alligator. In
attacking the fox he did not make use of his mouth, but beat him with so
much severity with his tail, that had not the chain which confined the
fox, broken, he would probable have killed him. The alligator was fed on
raw flesh, and sometimes with milk, for which he showed great fondness.
In cold weather he was shut up in a box, with wool in it; but having
been forgotten one frosty night, he was found dead in the morning."
ORDER III.
Hatteria Punctata.
Order III consists of a large reptile belonging to New Zealand which for
anatomical reasons cannot be classed either with the Crocodiles or the
Lizards. It is rare if not almost extinct, but a specimen may be seen in
the Natural History Museum.
ORDER IV.
The Lizards.
The lizards form an exceedingly numerous order. There are many hundreds
of different species, large and small, of which we can only refer to the
Chameleon, the Iguana, the Common Lizard, and the Monitor.
The Chameleon.
The Chameleon family belongs to Africa, the common variety being
otherwise found in central Asia and Ceylon. There are several genera,
and numerous species. They live on insects and possess tongues of
unusual length, furnished with a sticky mucus, which they protrude and
retract with such rapidity and certainty of aim that insects are caught,
and conveyed to the mouth with a speed the eye cannot follow. The
characteristic for which they are most famous is that of changing their
colour, a power which has doubtless been much exaggerated but which no
less surely exists. Mrs. Bowdich describes some she had in her
possession; she says, "Mine became green and yellow, assumed lighter and
brighter lines, but I could not see the bright blue or red substances on
which I put them reflected in their skins." According to M.
d'Obsonville, who is quoted by Mrs. Bowdich, the original colour is
green, the shades of which vary according to circumstances. When at
liberty, and in health, it assumes gradations of brown, red, or light
grey; when well-fed and in the open air, if provoked, it becomes a
blue-green; but when feeble, or deprived of free air, the prevailing
tint is yellow-green. If surrounded and teased or if one of its own
species comes near, it exhibits all three tints of green. If dying,
especially of hunger, yellow first predominates; and when dead, it is
the colour of dead leaves.
The Iguana.
The Common Iguana which sometimes attains to a length of five feet,
belongs to South America. It is a singular looking animal but is much
esteemed as an article of food, its flesh resembling that of chickens.
When taken young it may be tamed by kindness but otherwise it is fierce
when attacked and its bite is very severe. It is said that the natives
of the Bahama Islands who subsist largely on the Iguana, sew up their
mouths to prevent them biting when they wish to keep them alive for a
time.
The Common Lizard.
The Common Lizard and the Sand Lizard are the varieties found in
England. The Common Lizard is the smaller of the two, measuring about
six inches, the Sand Lizard sometimes attaining to double that length.
The former frequents green and sunny banks and is so rapid in its
movements when disturbed that it is sometimes mistaken for a viper. The
latter, which frequents sandy heaths and lives in burrows, assimilates
to the colour of its surroundings.
The Monitor.
The Monitor is the largest of the Lizards, sometimes measuring as much
as six feet in length. The largest of these frequents the Nile and is
known as the Nile Monitor from the habit attributed to it of signalling
the presence of crocodiles by a peculiar whistling sound. Dr. Abel Smith
says, "It is usually met with in rocky precipices, or on low, stony
hills, and when surprised, seeks concealment in the chinks of the
former, or in the irregular cavities of the latter; and when any
projections exist upon the surface of the rocks or stones, it clasps
them so firmly with its toes, that it becomes a task of no small
difficulty to dislodge it, even though it can be easily reached. Under
such circumstances, the strength of no one man is able to withdraw a
full-grown individual; and I have seen two persons required to pull a
specimen out of a position it had attained, even with the assistance of
a rope fixed in front of its hinder legs. The moment it was dislodged,
it flew with fury at its enemies, who by flight only saved themselves
from being bitten. After it was killed, it was discovered that the
points of all the nails had been broken previously, or at the moment it
lost its hold. It feeds upon frogs, crabs, and small quadrupeds, and,
from its partiality to the two former, it is often found among rocks
near to springs or running streams, which fact having been observed by
the natives, has led them to regard it as sacred, and not to be injured
without danger of drought."
ORDER IV.
Snakes.
There are hundreds of species of snakes, distributed in different parts
of the world, of which we can only select a few, of the better known,
for present purposes. These are the Viper, the Rattlesnake, the Cobra,
and the Boa Constrictor.
The Viper.
The Viper is found throughout Europe and is the only venomous reptile
known in England. It feeds on frogs, lizards, mice, and other small
animals, but like many of the snake kind often gorges itself and falls a
victim to its own rapacity. A Viper mentioned in the "Magazine of
Natural History" swallowed a lizard almost as large as itself, with the
result that one of the lizard's legs protruded through its side. Another
Viper came into the possession of Professor Bell, which had lost its
life through attempting to swallow a mouse which was too big for it, the
skin of its neck being so distended as to burst in several places. The
sting of the Viper, though venomous, is not nearly so fatal as is
commonly supposed. The simplest remedy is suction, fomentation, and the
application of oil. Vipers are sometimes caught by the sudden seizure of
the hand, at the neck, whereupon the creature opens its mouth to bite
its captor who cuts off its fangs with a pair of scissors.
The Viper and its Young.
"On August 4th, 1776," says Gilbert White, "we surprised a large viper,
which seemed very heavy and bloated, as it lay in the grass basking in
the sun. When we came to cut it up, we found that the abdomen was
crowded with young, fifteen in number; the shortest of which measured
full seven inches, and were about the size of full-grown earth-worms.
This little fry issued into the world with the true viper-spirit about
them, showing great alertness as soon as disengaged from the belly of
the dam; they twisted and wriggled about, and set themselves up, and
gaped very wide when touched with a stick, showing manifest tokens of
menace and defiance, though as yet they had no manner of fangs that we
could find, even with the help of our glasses. To a thinking mind
nothing is more wonderful than that early instinct which impresses young
animals with a notion of the situation of their natural weapons, and of
using them properly in their own defence, even before those weapons
subsist or are formed. Thus a young cock will spar at his adversary
before his spurs are grown; and a calf or a lamb will push with their
heads before their horns are sprouted."
The Rattlesnake.
The Rattlesnake belongs to America, and many exaggerated stories are
current concerning it. At certain seasons it is very fierce and its bite
is at all times very dangerous, but in the ordinary way it will not
attack anything but the animals it feeds upon, unless molested. It has
been tamed and kept in cages, one in the possession of Mr. Pierce making
friends with a toad which was introduced to its cage for the purposes of
food, and allowing it to take many liberties.
The Sting of the Rattlesnake.
"After the death of this snake," says Mr. Pierce, "I examined his fangs;
they were sharp like a sickle; a duct led from the reservoir of poison
at the bottom of the tooth quite through its whole length, and
terminated just by the point, which was exceedingly sharp. Thus, when
the fang is darted out it makes the puncture, and simultaneously the
poison flows through the duct, and is deposited in the very bottom of
the wound. As this rarely fails to touch a blood-vessel, the venom is
thus instantly issued into the system, and without delay, commences the
march of death through every vein and artery." Mr. Smith in the
"Philosophical Transactions" says:--"If a venomous serpent be made
repeatedly to inflict wounds, without allowing sufficiently long
intervals for it to recover its powers, each successive bite becomes
less and less effective. A gentleman who had a rattlesnake in a cage,
put a rat in with it; it immediately struck the rat, which died in two
minutes. Another rat was then introduced, which ran as far as it could
from the snake, with cries of distress. In half an hour, during which
time the snake showed no hostility, on being irritated, it struck the
rat, which died in twenty minutes. A third, and remarkably large rat,
was then thrust into the cage, which showed no terror of the snake, and
the snake took no notice of the rat; the gentleman, after watching them
for the whole evening, went to bed, and when he inspected the cage the
next morning, the snake was dead, and the muscular part of its back
eaten by the rat."
The rattle consists of a number of horny joints which when shaken
produce the sound by which it is known, and which gives notice of the
proximity of the snake.
The Black Snake and the Rattlesnake.
"The black snake of Central America," says Mr. Byam, "is a deadly enemy
to the rattlesnake; it is next in size to the boa, but much more agile;
very vicious and ill-tempered, but not poisonous; it measures from nine
to ten feet, and whenever they meet a pitched battle ensues, which, if
tolerably equal in size, ends in favour of the black snake. It is not
known whether they bite each other, but, at all events, the poison of
the venomous serpent has no effect upon his adversary, although a
rattlesnake bit itself one day, and died of the wound. A black and a
rattlesnake were each descending opposite banks to drink at a stream a
yard broad; the black fellow sprang over the stream, and they instantly
joined in conflict. They twined together, and the black snake had
evidently most muscular power, so that in half an hour the rattlesnake
was dead, and the black snake swallowed him, gliding into the thicket,
double the size he was when he came out of it."
The Cobra.
The Cobra is one of the most venomous of the snakes of the East. It is
common all over India and Ceylon and the Islands of the Archipelago. It
attains to a length of five or six feet, and feeds on birds, small
animals, lizards, frogs, toads, and fishes, in the pursuit of which it
will ascend trees and swim the sea. Notwithstanding its dangerous
character, the Cobra is the chosen subject of the Indian snake charmer,
who keeps it in a basket, until the time for the performance and then
allows it to creep out to the sounds of a native fife, upon hearing
which the Cobra immediately expands its beautiful though threatening
hood, erects its neck, and commences a series of undulating movements,
which are continued until the sound of the fife ceases, when the snake
instantly drops, and is replaced in its basket by its master.
Snake Charming.
"One morning, as I sat at breakfast," says a writer in the Penny
Magazine, "I heard a loud noise and shouting among my palankeen bearers.
On enquiry, I learned that they had seen a large hooded snake, and were
trying to kill it. I immediately went out, and saw the snake creeping up
a very high green mound, whence it escaped into a hole, in an old wall
of an ancient fortification; the men were armed with their sticks, which
they always carry in their hands, and had attempted in vain to kill the
reptile, which had eluded their pursuit, and in his hole had coiled
himself up securely, whilst we could see his bright eyes shining. I had
often desired to ascertain the truth of the report, as to the effect of
music upon snakes. I therefore enquired for a snake-catcher. There was
one about three miles off, and I accordingly sent for him, keeping a
strict watch over the snake, which never attempted to escape, whilst we,
his enemies, were in sight. About an hour elapsed, when my messengers
returned, bringing a snake-catcher. This man wore no covering on his
head, nor any on his person, excepting a small piece of cloth round his
loins; he had in his hands two baskets, one containing tame snakes, the
other empty; these, and his musical pipe, were the only things he had
with him. I made the snake-catcher leave his two baskets on the ground,
at some distance, while he ascended the mound with his pipe alone. He
began to play: at the sound of music the snake came gradually and slowly
out of his hole. When he was entirely within reach, the snake-catcher
seized him dexterously by the tail, and held him thus at arm's length,
while the snake, enraged, darted his head in all directions, but in
vain; thus suspended, he has not the power to round himself, so as to
seize hold of his tormentor. He exhausted himself in vain exertions;
when the snake-catcher descended the bank, dropped him into the empty
basket, and closed the lid, he then began to play, and after a short
time raising the lid of the basket, the snake darted about wildly, and
attempted to escape; the lid was shut down again quickly, the music
always playing. This was repeated two or three times; and, in a very
short interval, the lid being again raised, the snake sat on his tail,
opened his hood, and danced quite as quietly as the tame snakes in the
other basket, nor did he again attempt to escape."
The Cobra as Companion of the Bath.
A gentleman in India once visited a neighbouring station for the purpose
of taking part in a cricket match, and was hospitably entertained. He
was put up in a large tent, accompanied by his wife. After the day's
play, at dusk, he went between the canvas walls of the tent where his
bath was ready. Touching the bath-tub, were placed two large earthenware
jars, full of cold water, and next to them was a brass basin, also
containing water, on a stand; the light was burning in the centre of the
tent so that between the canvas walls was darkness. He stepped into the
tub, and finding the water too hot, bent down to take up one of the cold
water jars, but something induced him instinctively to refrain. He
stayed his hand, at the same time calling out to his wife to bring a
light, which she did when, to his horror, he saw a large cobra coiled
round the mouth of the jar, within a foot of his naked legs. The
sensation can be imagined. To move was probably death, to stand still
required nerve. Experience and courage decided the point, and fixing his
eye on the reptile, he quietly told his wife to put down the light on
the ground and get him a stick. The wife, a sensible creature, obeyed,
leaving her lord in the agonies of suspense as to what the snake's next
move would be. This was soon settled by the reptile uncoiling itself and
gliding up the chillumchee stand on to the basin, from which it
commenced drinking. By this time the stick was gently put into the
bather's hand, who with a well-directed blow cut the snake in half
against the edge of the copper basin, thus putting a full stop to a
thrilling period.
A Night with a Cobra.
"I was on a visit during the rainy season, a few years ago," says a
recent writer, "when I slept upon an iron bedstead which had two lots of
bedding on it. The first night I awoke, as I thought with a horrible
nightmare, feeling the cold slimy body of a snake gliding over my
person, and imagining myself in the regions described in Milton's
_Paradise Lost_, and so wondrously drawn by Doré. I was bathed in
perspiration, and trembled all over till daylight brought relief, and I
convinced myself it must have been merely a nightmare. But the next
night I again awoke in terror, feeling the same awful sensation of a
cold, clammy body gliding gently along my side, and passing with a
wriggle over my body; terror preventing me moving. Whether I fainted or
again fell asleep I have never been able to decide, but at daylight I
fled from the room and sat cowering in the verandah, in a state of mind
bordering on insanity. My hostess was informed of my state, and got me
round with a glass of wine. Nothing would induce me to re-enter my
bedroom. The bearer and other domestics were sent for, and headed by the
mistress of the house, inspected the bed by removing the sheets. Nothing
was to be seen till one of the servants brushed his leg against
something soft and cold, and looked down at the junction of the two
beddings; he saw the end of a dark-coloured tail. A howl from him
scattered the servants and made me imagine the snake was about to attack
me. The valiant servants again assembled, and with sticks entered the
bedroom and poked off the upper bedding, revealing a large hooded cobra
coiled in the centre, which was eventually despatched by blows."
An Unpleasant Bedfellow.