The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-04-10
SNAKES ALIvEl

GLEN COVE INFESTED By REPTILEs-THE BOYS
OF THE VILLAGE AssAIL THE "sARPINTs."
An eruption OF snakes has disturbed the monotony
OF the quiet old picturesque village OF Glen Cove on
Long Island. The snakes have been alternating, and
tho present warm weather has induced them come
out OF their holes and stretch themselves the
soft green grass wherever they nnd It They be-
long to the order Of couber cersitahs white on tho
belly and striped on the back They are not very
formidable class OF reptile. but put to It they
can raise blister on . mans skin to which mos
quito bite Is comparison. The natives do not like
snakes In any TORN, many OF them have good
sons for this aversion, having found them so ire-
quenly IN their boots The snakes question had
been lying of comfortably during tho winter, like
politicians out OF employment, awaiting the baimy
breath OF spring and better times to forth into
tho light OF day and make their hay while the
continued to shine.
FIND THEN
II was while they were engaged In this act OF re-
facilitating their fortunes that q lot OF boys,
liberated from school restraint, sailed down
upon them In the meadow adjoining the
Catholic church OF Glen Cove, and widespread
slaughter followed "Most curious thing about those
snakes" said Mr. Lincoln. citizen OF the village and
editor Of the local paper. s that individually they
are great cowards but let four nve OF them got
cclher and they will spit out and defy every
body" The boys of Gcn Cove, by In the
VILLAGE are the bravest not even excepting The Spar
tan youth oil old that lived. Sticks In hand, they
sailed into The entertainments ofthe Snakes aud never
quaed TIL they laid the reptile Toe dead and
discovered on the greensward. Billy Boyle,
OF the Reaalia HOTEL said he kept force
OF cats Tor hunting the varmnt and that they wero
SO trained that perfect rivalry existed between his
six OF seven pussies as 10 which should bring In aud
Billy exhibits with pride blister OF snakes
raised on mis- forearm when he fooishy attempted 10
tread on their tails you astonished TO lnd how
quickly they retaliats and climb over you with the
rapidly OF lightning, ssizng tho hrs. available piece
OF cuticle 10 make their mark.
USEFUL.
These snakes be entirely despised. for
they have their uses IN the economy OF nature Iney
XIII and render useless such pests OF the husbancman
as beetles, grassnoppers potato bugs and all manner
These garter snakes reach length OF as much as
three feet. They can swim, but their disposition, AS
rue Is that OF retirement on the grounds oil the Rev.
Mr. Oerhel at Glen Cove the boys OF tho village dis
covered numerous nests OF these snakes ana they
went for them boys might be supposed 20. They
Drought into the village the dead and imp bodies OF
the reptiles and everybody praised tneir daring, and
pretended to look with admiration on thor trophies
Mr.. Pearsal, formerly Member or Assembly, went
carefully over his grounds with rake poking par
tcuary around the base OF his wall OF arbor Vita TO
discover tho abiding places OF the reptile in question:
but without avail
THE HABITS OF THE REPTILE.
Ho enlarged, however, eoQuently on the habits OF
tho snake its disposition AVOID cold and It's delight
In warm weather. Mr.. Pearsal was indignant the
OF tho way OF garter snake which nc uncovered with
his garden rake The fact Is that he jumped only two
feet and was possessed II hts TREND Lincoln
that made the prodgioas feat mentioned and who IS
Still much concerned the snake question Ycster-
day great day Tor the ooys oil tho village They
assembled In force after school hours and started with
sticks 10 their hands Tor the locality the snakes.
These they Killed by the hundred, and the boy who
captured the most was "Big Medicine" among mis-
companions
Tho effect Of this snake visitation Is to throw the ic-
male mind Of the village into extreme pertur balion.
No more-for the present-will maiden press The
grassy path Of the hill sdo search OF climbing
arbutus. and even on the familiar footpaths through
the village Il Is AT The hour with
maiden meditation fancy free, because they lear tho
trcacheroas snake.
Long Island has many curses to stand, but this
last one oil snakes than she is willing submit
to. 1t Is pretty free from venomous reptiles, how.
ever. There are rattfesnakos and vipePs mere aud
there IN tho woods, but rule tho people generally
escape from their attacks and live along II there
were no venomous reptiles IN the world.