The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1871-08-17
SERPENTS.
About Rattlcsnokcs-A lIOr-
ribls Play thing.

The Lynchburg Republican publish
es the following "snake stories," and
says they can be substantiated by in
disputable testimony. They are only
some of the trifling experiences OF the
mountaineers with the rattlesnakes:
"There are in the Blue Ridge two
distinct species-the yellow and the
black. The yellow was formerly sup
posed to be the male; but the fallacy
OF that opinion is demonstrated by the
fact that In many localities only one
of these kinds is ever seen, and also
by the great difference in size and
form-the yellow being very thick
and short, and the black long and
slender. But both of these species are
beautifully ornamented with flowers
Which in the sunlight partakes of all
the cOlors of the rainbow. The yellow
snake Is much less liable to rattle
than the black, and therefore most to
be dreaded, though no dependence
need he placed in either, as it depends
altogether upon the caprice of the
moment when they retreat, advance,
rattle, or play possum.' The par
TALLY of this snake for the company
of children has been frequently no.
ticed among the mountaineers, one
instance of which is familiar to some
of our Bedford readers. a few years
ago q farmer, whose claim stood in
one of the widest localities about the
mountains, OH coming into the house
one day discovered his little daughter
two years old, sitting up in bed, where
she had been placed, when asleep by
her mother. The child was laughing
immoderately, and showing by its
very action and expression Of cOunten-
ance that it was greatly pleased. The
father approached when to his borrow
he discovered that an enormous yel-
low rattlesnake, the largest he had
ever seen, was in bed with his child,
and actually coiled around her boby.
His presence instantly wrought a
change in the conduct of the snake,
which deXtrously uncoiled itself from
around the child and assumed al at
titude of battle. The mountaineer's
rifle hung upon a rack over the door;
he grasped it in his hand with feelings
which cannot be described, and await
ed an opportunity to shoot. He had
no sooner done so than the snake
commenced caressing the child by
rubbing his head fondly against her
cheek, and darting its forked tongue
almost in her eyes. Then he would
raise his tail and rattle SO rapidly as
to make one continued sound, at
which the child was greatly delighted.
But upon the least movement on the
part of the almost distracted parent,
the the snake would entirely change
the tone of his rattling and swell to
almost twice his natural size. During
all this time the child tightly grasped
the snake with its chubby little hands
and jerked and twisted him about in
q very rude and unceremonious MAN.
ner, laughing and talking to her hor-
rid plaything in perfect ecstacy of
delight. This state of things was fin
ally ended by q movement by the pa
rent, which 50 enraged the snake that
he drew himself up into n tight coil
leaped out OF bed, and would have
buried his langs in the farmers face
had he not quickly lodged to one side.
AS it was the serpent went over his
shoulder and out at the door, where he
renewed the signal for battle, but
was quickly stretched out stiff in
death by q shot from the rifle. The
child cried immoderately for her prct-
ty plaything, and if set down in any
part of the yard would Immediately
toddle toward the dead reptile.
A party ofyoung men in the same
ncighborhood only few years ago,
had very interesting adventure with
rattlesnakes, Which may be briefly
stated. Early in the fall of the year,
and before the snakes had "houscd up''
for the winter, this party went on. one
night the dogs "trced" family of
cOons in one of the largest trees in the
neighborhood. 1t was decided to wait
until daylight to capture them, with
the hope that the cutting down of the
tree could he dispensed with. The
young men laid down upon the
ground, and We're amusing them
selves with telling stories, when one
Of the party, who was thoroughly ac-
quainted with the habits and pcculia-
rites of the rattlesnakc, suddenly
called out, "Lie still, boys; don't
move for anything. There's rattle
snakes here heard ones rattle hit u
rock" He had scarcely spoken when
an enormous rattlesnake came craw-
ling over his feet, and followed his
leg to the body crossed over his breast
striking his next neighbor's face, and
crawled over his mouth. The third
party was not touched by the snake,
except that his rattles tapped lightly
against his cap brim as he passed.
The fourth hunstman heard the rattle,
sprang to his feet and assembled tree
with remarkable agility. This snake
was Immediately followed by anOth-
er, not quite so large, and then by
four very small ones, all of which
travelled precisely the same path.
When daylight came the raccoons
were shot, and then the search for the
snakes commenced. They were found
in n hollow stump, but u few stems
of, and were all killed."
TIM ('nIrsr nE nm, IL Yr,, n 49,.