To the Editor of the "Nonta-Cutxa Datty News."
Sir,—Your Hot Weather" news in yesterday's issue relates the experience of a well-known resident who saw his fox-terrier courageously barking ata nake crawling the outside mosquito proofing. It is only that this snake story is authenticated by other reliable witnesses that the writer, (who -assumed it must have been a new species with feet or claws or possessed of other extraordinary! powers ta crawl up mosquito proofing) will accept the explanation printed under protest.
Four years ago in Shanghai during the hot weather whilst at tiffin (and not during the sma' wee oars) the writer was appealed to by his servants, who were considerably alarmed, to go outside and in the poultry run was introduced to a snake, whose tiny black eyes flash. ed a welcome and his forked tongue wagged merrily; calling for a walking stick the visitor was easily made safe and measured 6 feet or more.
As regards the statement that Shanghai possesses or is said to do, only the harmless water snake, the curator of the R.A.S. will have other views, and I would just point out two other varieties which will readily be recognized by many, ie. the jug snake and hoop snake. The former does not require any details as size, colour, ete. vary considerably; the latter is easily recognized by its habit of putting its tail in its mouth and rolling aw y when alarmed on less frequented roads favoured by motorists, The writer ssaw_ one flattened out on Siccawei Road about 10 days ago near a well-known hospital, evidently having made an error in estimating the speed of a passing motor car. Or was it another variety known as the ribbon snake?
I am, ete., Top Ya. Shanghai, Aug. 9.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.