The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1882-09-21
ABOUT SNAKES.


With Reptiles.
There was brought to the Star Office
by Mr.. II. .. Starr yesterday an enorm-
ous egg. 1t was twice the size of
goose-egg, but was not Us regular in
shape. The outer covering, instead of
being hard and brittle like q shell, was
90 soft that it could be easily indented
by the finger. This singular egg was
cold and clammy to the touch, and it
gave person who handled it an un-
comfortable feeling like that which
would result from contact with a snake,
toad orfrog.
''This egg" said Mr.. Starr, Twas
laid by the three acknowledgement python
which was brought to this city by Mr..
G. B. Bunne:l few days ago. The
python is sitting upon a nest full of such
eggs, and in short time lot of little
snakes will be Matched out. They will
DO nice pets for people who have an adj
miration forreptiles. The mothers snake
Is twenty-five feet in length, and she is
coiled upon hernest and patiently await
ing the advent Of her young. Her tenn
per is just like that of setting hen.
She IS very ugly, and if she is disturbed
sho manifests her diSplea ,ure in n way
that gives all meddlers to understand
that she wishes to be let severely alone"
"What shall l do with this thinr?"
was the inquiry made by the represent
ative of the star, 10 whom The python's
egg was handed.
"lou can have it hatched Artificial
ly,' was the reply Of the donor just
keep it in cotton in II place which is
neither too warm nor too cold and the
hrst thing you know you will be the
owner of n real, live python. Then if
you take proper care of the YOUNG
snake, 1t will grow SO large that it will
be able to coil about YOU and crush Won
in its vice-lke folds"
Mr.. w. A. Conkling, Superintendent
of the Central Park Menagerie, sneak
ing of reptiles, said: There is scarcely
any animal that commands so much
aversion us the serpent and yet, in spite
OF this, it is one of the most intere stinp
OF all that come before the naturalist
Yet little attention has been paid to
the snake, rs compared to others
OF the animal kingdom. The ancient
writers speak i'll respectful tones OF SER
ponts of size and power. Aristotle tells
OF the immense Ivhian serpents. SO
large that they pursued and upset some
OF the voyagers' boats that visited that
coast. The story Of the gigantic snake
that threw the army of Reyulus into dis
order by killing and devourino sc-cral
of his ssoldiers, and squeezing n few hun
dred to death in his folds. will be re-
membered. Rcgulus finally killed the
monster by aid Of the engines used to as
sail fortified places. The skin of this py-
thon was 12Ofeet in length, and for years
adorned one the temples Of Rome"
Mr.. Conkling added: The story
that sPakes cover their prey with saliva
ls An error Sir Robert Ker Porter saws
the python does not first cover its prev
with saliva. The mucous does not pour
out OF the glands unless the prey is large
and it is required to lubricate the laws
and throat for the seemingly dispropor-
ionate feast Pythons will cling by the
tail to some tree growing in the water,
and then tloat upon the surface and wait
for animals that may come to the water
TO quench their thirst. They often feed
upon each other. In the Geological
Gardens in London, one who had lived
ior years on friendly terms with u
brother nearly rs large as himself, was
FOUND one morning sole tenant Of his
den. AS the cage was secure, the keep
er was puzzled to know how the SERPENT
had escaped At last it was discovered
that the remaining inmate had swollen
remarkably during the night, when the
truth came out. But if YOU want a GOOD
up and down snake story, let me intro
duce you to Prof. Hutchings."
Can l tell you anything about
snakes? l should say so," said the Rev.
Mr.. Hutchings, lightning calculate or and
lecturer upon Bunnelr wonders. "Sirl
could tell you facts, sr-facts in rela-
lion TO tho bctrayer of our common
would overwhelm YOU with
amazement. remember one in the
year 1864. was at Gilbert's Museum,
marker, near Second, San Francisco,
"a Ga. FIFTY In gold and all expenses.
AhoSe were glorious days; gold way up,
tion. I noticed for several davs a man
they called Reynolds hanging about the
place. he was, a man about tifty, no
taller than myself. gray locks hanging
over his shoulders. A bent form like n
tree that had been brought up wrong.
Eyes with far-away look. He had y
peculiar gliding motion, and his feet,
muilled in slippers. gave forth no moro
sound than the reptile. Shortly after
noticed the proprietor advertised for
snakes. One day mountaineer came
in with box pierced with aia-holes.
From the inside came sound like unto
the rattle of nusketry.
" What yer got, stranger" said Rey-
nolds, pushing through the crowd.
Rattlers,' said the mountaineer.
Let me take one,' said Reynolds,
reaching for the box.
80 Better look ont; they bite, and
when they bite they KILL was the reply.
IF yer brought these in answer TO
the advertisement them's my snakes
said Reynolds. as he plunged his hand
into tho box In second ne brought
forth Ex-foot rattlesnake, and holding
it between thumb and finger looked at
it, The far-away look in the eyes Of
tho mysterious man had given way to a
dancing, sparkling briliiancy, before
which the snake was powerless
80 Amt he purtyp See the sun strike
It's Handsome hide and cum back in rain
bow colors. Kiss me, boy
'.sIowIy the deadly serpent went to-
vards his mouth. and then darted down
HE fhPoof TihA ssuntv8 ffid Y,nf Y,onyas