It is stated
that there were 2893 human beings killed by tigers, leopards,
hyenas, and panthers in India during the year 1894, and in the
same year the same species of beasts, aided by snakes, killed
97,371 head of cattle. The number of human lives destroyed by
snakes in India in 1894 was 21,538. The number of wild beasts
killed in the same year was 13,447, and the number of snakes
killed was 102,210.
Yarrow of Washington, who has been a close student of this
subject, has found in this country no less than 27 species of
poisonous snakes, belonging to four genera. The first genus is
the Crotalus, or rattlesnake proper; the second is the Caudisona,
or ground-rattlesnake; the third is the Ancistrodon, or moccasin,
one of the species of which is a water-snake; and the fourth is
the Elaps, or harlequin snake. There is some dispute over the
exact degree of the toxic qualities of the venom of the Heloderma
suspectum, or Gila monster. In India the cobra is the most deadly
snake. It grows to the length of 5 1/2 feet, and is most active
at night. The Ophiophagus, or hooded cobra, is one of the largest
of venomous snakes, sometimes attaining a length of 15 feet; it
is both powerful, active, and aggressive.
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