THE DIARIST AND THE SNAKE

Samuel Pepys

Samuel Pepys (1633-1703) was an English politician.  His name, in case you were wondering, is pronounced Peeps.  He is particularly famous as a diarist - his Diaries are a classic of English literature.

Samuel wrote about a peculiar snake of which he had been told that was to be found in Lancashire.  In those days Lancashire was somewhat larger than it is today - it included the present counties of Lancashire and Merseyside.  This snake had a most unusual power. If a lark were to fly overhead, it would maneuver itself under it and spit venom skywards.  This would strike the unfortunate bird, which would plummet into the awaiting open mouth of the snake.  Why this reptile should have confined itself to larks, I do not know.  Maybe it sometimes devoured other small birds, killing them in a similar manner.

Pepys knew of this snake by report only.  Maybe the report had grown somewhat in the telling.  Certainly no such reports emanate from the area today.