Kat,

As a cold blooded reptile a snake can lay perfectly still for hours. Our eyes are attuned to catch movement, no matter how small.

So where you could see the grass waver where a lion tried to moved downwind of you, a pit viper could lay motionless and overlooked at your feet for hours.

Perhaps the sub-fear is the basic alieness. We could see a lion and be frightened, but still recognize in the two eyes, two ears, 4 limbs, tongue some remote connection to "us".

Early man could probably envy the predator tearing it's meat to shreds. What envy for bushmasters venom making a lightly bit friend foam and spasm?

No one could watch a snake swallow prey and feel even a remote relationships.

Jammer