The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1877-07-15
RAEHONTING SNAKES.


Some months ago q gentleman from
Dumfries paid visit to friend of his il
the township of Beverly, Canada, o Mr.
Henry, and remained with him several
| days. During his visit the Dumfries gen.
tleman complained that his house was lit.
orally infested with rats and mice. He
mad tried every device to get rid of them,
and all had failed. Mr.. Henry, who is aa
ingenious as he is fond Of sport, declared
that he would battle the rats out of his
friends cellar in little les, than no time, to
use his own expression. Next day the two
drove TO the genJleman's house 10 Dam
fries. MIR. Henry took with him a commo
quarter gross match box pierced with few
holes, which he carefully placed under the
seat of the buggy. The Dunfries gentle
man feeling that bis friend was going to
give him surprise, probably with some
| Improvement on ferret, asked no ques-
lions, the better to erjOy the surprise when
| It did como. Arrived at the house, they
had dinner, and after the ladies had retir
ed - Mr.. Henry placed the box on the table
and removed the lid. In an instant from
the box fesped full grown garter snake,
measuring three and q half feet in length.
The reptile, which was highly excited with
the heat, reared itseif almost on the tx
tremity of it's tail and glided about the Ia.
BILE with remsrks bic rapiGity, licking ite
CHASTITY jaws with its fJrEed aud nimble
tongue. The Damfries gentleman shrauk
back into the corner almost petrifed with
horror. MI. Henry sho wed how silly this
was by taking the snake upon his arm and
handling it much "a a hack driver would
his whip lash. His fears were finally over
come, and when he had composed himself
he led bis friend into the cellar where the
snake was get at liberty. The reptile im:-
mediatefy darted for the wall, and the next
moment discovered hole, into which it
glided with the greatest ease, an interest
ing terrier stood at their heels, aod both
gentlemen held clubs, which were trumps
just about then. The snake had not dis
appeared over Il minute before half dozen
rats bounced out of the hole aud met q
terrible fate at the hands of their enemies
outside. But the snake was not satisfied
it discovered every rat hole in the cellar,
and glided in and out among the rocks
where even rats could not have gone. 1t
was finally taken up and placed in the box
after twenty rats aud almost as many mice
had been killed. The snake belongs to a
black garter family, which are in reality
the best friends the farmer has got. They
live exclusively upon the field mice, worms,
flies, and other vermip, and if they occa-
sionally swallow frog or dine on a couple
of Young ground birds, or accidentally
glide across the path of human being,
their lives should be preserved, as their
good qualities counterbalance these de-
fects. The one possessed by Mr.. Henry
was captured by him last summer in q pea
field, and since he has had it no rats are
to be seen or heard of in the Deighborhood
of his house. The reptile is kept in a box,
AS before stated, and fed upon liver. Next
summer Mr.. Henry intends to capture oil
the snakes he possibly can alive, aud
train them up for the benefit of his neigh
bors.