37.—THE SERPENT.
First couple leads off. The gentleman leaves his lady in a corner of room facing the wall; then he brings forward four or five more ladies and places them in a line behind his partner singly, leaving about two feet space between each one. He then selects as many gentlemen (including himself) as there are ladies, with whom he forms a loose chain and conducts them rapidly in a course between the ladies (commencing with the last lady) until he reaches his partner; he then claps his hands and each gentleman dances with the lady nearest him.