Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-05-10
often being hoed up by the hands working

often being hoed up by the hands working
at sweet potatoes.
One OF the commonest of the non-poison
ous snakes is the striped or common garter
snake (Eutan;a sirtalis), ten species O
which are known in the United States. II
early spring they are almost the first O.
the reptiles to roll out of their holes
where riley have been hiding in balls Oh
clusters.
Though easily aroused, and striking
quickly, their bite is little more than !
scratch. In the spring they are always
hungry. The garter-snake is remarkably
prolific, and in the spring their numbers
about pools are somewhat astonishing.
The coachwhip-snake (1Masticophis), a
long, slender form, of the Southern and
Gulf States, from its attenuation and rapid
movements, has been vested with remark.
able powers BY the credulous. The Indi.
ans formerly asserted that it had the power
OF cutting its antagonist in twain by its
whip-like motions; Others thought that it
formed itself in wheel by holding its tail
in its mouth and rolling away Many OF
these curious fables are still believed in
the South.
The hog nosed snake, or blowing adder,
is common in the Eastern States. 1t is a
speckled, glittering, disagreeable locker,
but is perfectly harmless.
The green snakes, common in the South,
are attractive as such things go. They are
just the color of a vine, and are easily over
looked. Allied species, further to the
south, have been seen to leap 20 feet in the
air, falling to the ground and escaping.
They are perfectly harmless, and like the
common green snake of the North, can be
handled with impunity, are easily tanned.
feeding from the hand. A lady once APP
peared in public with three such pets
| one about her neck as a necklace. the
Others clasped about her wrists as brace
lets.
The water snake Nerodia sipedoa) is an
| extremely common form in the Eastern
| United States; and an allied form, known
! as the red-bellied water-snake, is common
| in Michigan, while several other species
are well known in various localities. They
are lnoffenslve creatures, and prey upon
small animals. In Ohio they are quite
| common. The water-snakes are generally
found about water-courses, often hanging
| In the branches of trees over streams, into
| which they rapidly drop. DIR. Bell, the
| English naturalist, tanned a European
species of this genus. His pet would dis
tinguish him among crowd and crawl to
| him, passing into his sleeve, where it
| curled up for nap. Every morning it
came to the doctors table for its share of
milk. For strangers it had an aversion,
flying and kissing at them when touched.
Among other snakes more or less known
in the South is the king snake Ophiobolus
gelulus), also called thunder snake. They
| are richly mottled, and in Georgia attain
a length of four feet. They are known to
prey upon other snakes.
The corn, pine, fox, glass, chain and
chicken snakes are other varieties more or
less familiar.
The corn snake is reddish brown in
color above and silver white below. There
are reddish spots on the sides. The
greatest length is six feet. 1t is a night
prowler, and is credited with being a
chicken stealer. 1t is seldom found north
of North Carolina.
The length of the blacksnake, another
| common fellow in this country, is usually
from four to five feet, but has been known
seven. 1t is given to coiling about its
prey, that consists of mice, frogs young
birds and eggs and win not bes;tate -
wind aronnd The loo of anv dar;nn Nv W
br;ne;ne # n bav in eo,oSe o,,ar,ars ~
bold bnt ;ts b;fa l. bsrdoiess 7. ofan
ENGAGES in hattie with tho ratties,al.a IA
nsnailv nrovas y;otor hv so,,aaz;na ~ @ a
tagonist to death.
snake d;sf;nc1;shed fron, nc $1,000.
rattlesnaLe 6v the absenca Of tha iat .ean
rattles and lack of n;ts ON The s;des &c -
head Tbere owe about .,ront 49, $500, =, :ne
esnec;allv ahoun5;ng in Afr;o. III,
Fnronean variety is also called the .adar
H. or,ra,,,a le,,,.b = 49,. 49, 60 49, IL
GENERAL color yeilow;sb or oI;ve 49, .re
with double row Of blaek snots alone ~
bact 1ba eves arc snall or,d br;j7;a,,t
II Is the onlv no;sonons sn.Ia fo,,na 81 =,
Great Britain bnt the venom il sa1don,
fatal if ordinary remedies are annI;ad
without delav. aItbongb cansing main and
sickness. The v;ner does not try 10 escane
an enemy ike common snata Int cole
mn and fares the INTRUDER for hns;,ess 49,
The cobra 40 canelJo son,et;n,as oa,lad
tbe booded snate s . yenon,o,,s -.
Of the Fast Indies n ;s srmed I'll
no;sonons fanos hnt hoe oortIa ana ~.
unpleasine annearance and Is really Joc;Io
bv na,ure The d;lation ~ tha neole =
caused by the meving forward Of tbe r;hs
extending to about the tenth vartehra
The General coIor i brown;sb vsIIaa
Of yar;ous decraes If br;nt.nas"
The lenctb ;s from three 20 fonr go
When offended or attached = If.s !.
self more than half erect sunnor,;na .' ,be
!! sway,no body NV the tail IL tb;s ~; -
ton it looks yerv tbreaten;nc The na;so ,
is extremely dangerous tboueh not 'o ~
virnlent as that Of the rattiesnate T.
rarely ever bites nnless stenned nnon ar
provoked.
The boas are the largest Of the sernents
They are without po;sen Int heinz IF trs.
noendons nnscrl.r Y,o,rar tba,, or,,sb H.,