National Republican., 1884-05-08
SNAKES.
Their Habits and How They nre Captured
by Snake Chnrmers.

~ 'AA"HAN NNuatA HADA"s
Inter Ocean.
An Arab who some twenty years ago showed
some remarkable feats of charming with tho
snakes in the Geological gardens in London,
made very frank statement to Dr. Wood of
his methods, admitting that there was no
magic in them, only courage and thorough
understanding Of snake nature. The method
of catching the snakes was to draw them by
the music Of u pipe, or a low whistling sound,
from their retreats. Though snakes have no
outside ears, and those under their skin are
but imperfcctly developed, they have dis
tinct perception of sound, and some species,
especially tho cobra, are very susceptible to
music. Tho whistling is Coniessodly an at
tempt to initiate q sound mado by the snake
itself, which 10 thought to be q call to its
mate. The reptile thus allurod forth from
its retreat advances toward the charmcr,
drawing Its body half erect and swaying IL
from side to side, presumably from an instinct
of curiosity to test the nature of tho strange
SCUM d, or from desire to strike at the dis
turber of its peace. 1t IL this movement
VIII ich is usually described as the snakes
dancing to the music. Tho musician does
not remain in ono spot, but moves abo ut
rapidly thus accelerating tho dapcing move
mont of the reptile. In the meantime tho
charmor's assistant advances cautiously and
| quickly from behind, and, seizing tho snake
it into bag, and it is taken away to have its
teeth pulled and be put through q course of
training as tano snake.
| In India these professional charmers arc
employed to clear houses and gardens OF rep
| tiles. A number of instances arc given in
books of Indian life wherein the 'charmer's'
performance has been found to bo pure i'm
posture, being simply tho catching of tame
snakes with which ho himself had "saltcd"
the premises. Tho caught reptiles were
marked, and thus recognized in different To-
calities. But, notwithstanding these cases of
fraud, there are "A sufficient number OF at
tested cases TO prove that the eharmers do
capture tho untamed roptiles and instances
wherein, like tho Arab mentioned, tho per-
former has frankly explained his modus
operandi, without the least attempt to claim
tho magical powers in which the ignorant b
Hindoos 80 firmly believe. 1t Is tho courage
and deXtority of these men which Is marvel
Gus. Thor absolute fearlessness combined
with quickness and gentlenoss does give them
an immunity from poril that would be i'm
possible to ono less trained.
Tho keepers of snakes in museums often
acquire tho same powers, but none know
better than they in what peril they use it,
although tho creatures in their care are
obliged to submit to periodical tooth pull
ing. Two of tho keepers at tho London
| Geological gardens coming in one morning
pretty drunk thought that "just for q lark"
they would move the cobras into another
cage. They had safely transferred nearly all
of them, habit inducing them to exercise that
carefulness that their boozy conviction might
cause them to forget, when one of them
finding q large cobra unusually torpid shook
it violently. In an instant the sharp fan ga
were buried in his cheek, and the poor man
now sober onough-said to his companion,
Pm dead man, Bill" He was taken as
quickly as possible to the hospital but In an
hour was livid corpse.
Tho stories of children who have petted
and fed tame snakes arc numerous, aud some
of them no doubt are true. Ono little Incl
dent, as showing the power of fearless gentle
ness in touching these terrible reptiles, is
worth repeating. noted scientist in Lond or
received box from q friend in Amer ict
containing large rattlesnake. Tho let tel
apprising him of the gift had been delayed
and the gentleman opening the box withou
any thought of danger, and seeing IL ap
parently filled with moss, thrust his hant
into it and touched tho cold scales of I
reptiles head. A peculiar odor, which be
longs to this snake only, and faint rattlin
! sound under the moss informed him of thu
lineage of his visitor; also that !
was ready to give him bito Il
> return for its unceremonious reception. Hi
presence of mind aud his knowledge Q
snake kind enabled him to stroke it for
moment calmly and gently and then with
draw his hand uninjured. An experiences
; snake-catcher, in advising as to the bes
method of handling snakes, says: "Alway
seize them quickly aud firmly by the tail. A
ophodian, held up by this appendage, Is a
nearly helpless as q creature of its resource
can be. The snakes tail is the lover by whic
ho moves his. whole body; deprive him of thi
lever and Archimedes could not be moro at
loss in like condition. Therefore, to cut off
snakes tail is to disable him as thoroughly u
to cut off his head. He may still move him
self short distance by writhing and strug
giles, but his control of himself is gone an,
you can dispatch what is left of him at you
| leisnre.O