THE NATURALIST.

Otago Witness, Issue 2210, 9 July 1896, Page 48

THE NATURALIST.

Tlio Serjicntirore of ludia.

The Ophlophagus claps, or eerpentWore, fff a very venomous serpent that feeds on serpents. More than this, its hugs length, reaching four yards, makes it the giant of venomous serpents, and its venom, which is extremely powerful, yields in nothing to that of the most famous spscies. It may b« understood that the combination of such re* markable qualities has struck with admiration the men that have bad opportunity for observing them, so it io not surprising that the Hindus Rave it; the title of "King of Serpents." When the serpentivore, gay they, needs food, he betakes himself to a olearing; raises himself np with inflated neck, and whistles in a peculiar fashion. Soon, from all parta of the forest, the serpenta, who understand this summons, come gliding np and range themselves before their monarch, who ohooaes the most toothsome, falls upon it, and devours it. The survivors, having done their duty, then retire with all humility, as befits submissive subjects. Be this as it may, the Ophiophagtu claps is one of the most splendid and most perfect of venomous serpents. It is of an olive-green hue, with white au'd black markings of remarkable brilliancy. At the slightest warning it raises the anterior portion of its body, inflates its neck, and hisses powerfully. Its huge length, its sparkling eyes, its brilliant colours, make it a creature of truly formidable appearance. Add to this an , extremely nctive venom, whose quantity corresponds to the great length of the creature, and the terror it inspires may be imagined. Finally, and this is the most serious fac); of ail, theOpbiophagus is not only the most powerful ef venomous serpents, it is without doubt ona of the most warlike. Far from fkeing man like most reptiles, it attacks him, pursues him* nutiringly, and is undeterred by any obstacle, eiace this redoubtable monster adds to an uncommon degree of agility tha faculty of swimming with great speed and of climbing in the twinkling of an eye np the highest; trees. Cantor tolls the story of an English officer who was chased by an Ophiophsgus, and, on the point of being overtaken, owed his safety only to a trick. He let fall his bat, and, while the snake foil with fury on this inoffensive prey, he was enabled to gain a safe retreat. Nicholson relates that he saw an elephant, bitten by an Ophiophagns, die in three hours.— M. P. E. Juilleuax, ia La Nature, Paris,

Animal Somnambulists.— Lindsay, fa bis "Mind in Animals," describes distinct cases of somnambulism as ocourriog in animals, especially in sickly, nervous, timid, ill-used ones, in whom sleep 1b most apt to be disturbed. The somnambulist watohdog prowjs in search of imaginary strangers or foes, and exhibits towards them a whole series of pantomimic actions, including somo of those which he displays in bis dreams. Nightmare also occurs among the lower animal*. As in other disorders of sleep, there may hero ha murmurs, cries, gestures, or actions, or other forma of motor or muscular disturbance. '

A Four-legged Bum.— A atracgo bird recently fGund ia British Guiana, South Amc-ricn, is the only vouched-for survivor of the hitherto supposed extinct race, though several of them are known among the fossil race*. This particular ipeciss is called the created boatzin. The young hoatzlna have, when hatched, four well-developed legs, the front pair being somewhat of a reptilian character, with strong claws. They posses! the ability to leave the nest as soon as hatched, and, by nsing all four legs, climb over branches, twigs, and tree trunks! This bird has also the power, even whilo young; to swim, dive, and remain for a long period under water. Soon after hatching tho four legs begin to change, the. claws fall' off, and the claw-like members become flattened into the point of an ordinary bird wing ; feathers begin to grow, aad when folly grown no Bign remains of the queer forelegs it possessed at birth. The nestlings are the nearest approach to a quadruped found among existing birds. The adult bird is nearly as large as a peacock, and lives in the densest forests. It ia rarely seer), but its load wailing cry it often heard in the woods. Its flesh has an offensive smell, from the vegetation it selects as food,, and thus renders it unfit for eating.

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