The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-10-23

potlsned, as IN the deadly elaplG6, or
coral snakes, and in the ordinary harm
isss snakes; ~ the iride.cent as in the
powerful boas and rythons; and I'D the
absorbent or velvet as in the poisonous
vipers. With very few exceptions these
qualities are confined TO the classes named.
Nov. as Is the case with birds and
other animals, the Characteristic coiora-
ton of each species of snake is determined
by the natural photography of the lights
and shadows OF its habituaI abode. not so
much the abode of particular individuals
as the general resting place of the species
Those that live among the verdant foliage
OF trees and vines are either wholly or
partially of like hue and hence are often
passed unnoticed. A small but very
beautiful whip snake IN South America Is
entirely OF q vivid green. while the BOOM
slang, another tree snake OF the same
country. 10 covered with green scales on
groundwork of purple. OF the south
American tree snakes, two OF them bear
the name of lora or parrot snake on ac-
count of their greatness. They live
among the rich foliage OF the forest rivers.
but mostly IN open spots where the sum
shine pays freely On every leaf ana
flower. One of these. the lovely green
lora--tne Ahgfaitn f,l!gida-is entirely OF
. metallic green. The scaceiy less beauti-
fui golden Iora is green on the back.
golden along the sides and pearl beneath.
In strange. contrast with this gorgeous
eoloring is the sober gray and brownish
drab of the Bejuco dsgiophIs ocuaai'.atn
But who could expect better with his sur
soundings, for his home IL among the sun
embrowned bushes Of the plains and bar
rem hillsides; and hence he is Ike the half
withered twigs among which he lives.
His name in Spanish signifies bush rope.
and IL seems TO mt him admirably ~ 20
length and thinness as well as 10 color. for
while he Is not thicker than cigarette ne
is i've feet long, ana might easily be taken
for q twining vine stalk. Oftentimes the
negresses in the West Indies in gathering
the peas for dinner unwittingly take him
In their hands. and although. they know
he is harmless, never fail to signaiize the
occurrence by screaming loudly and rush
ing into the house.
The long and graceful Tnacheta OF Vene-
xueia, VINO naupts the bushes by the river
banks to hunt the frogs that hide among
the water lines. Is greenish black above
like the well-nourishet branches around
him. and like the ripened leaves that turn
yellow before they fall he also is orca-
mented with the same color beneath and
along his sides.
Everyone will have noticed that the
eyes OF the frog have q peculiar golden
hue near the upper part Of the pupil. as if
the rays of the sunshine were reiiec ted
there from the waters by whose brink he
sits. It's curious that the maeheta which
haunts the same localities should have
his eyes exactly similar with just the
same tinge OF gliding above the pupil.
Should you chance TO see his head onl Y
sticking up among the boating leaves of
the lotus you would have some difficulty
in deciding whether it was the head of
frog or not. We may we'll wonder how
many countless ages these snakes must
have watched for frogs by the river banks
until the glints of sunshine have been
painted upon their eyes as they undoubt-
eddy bear them TODAY.
OF those which might be most aptly
called grass snakes such as our garter
snake and the crueiie- Of South Africa,
most Of them are marked in stripes longi-
tudinaily with darker gray or brown, very
similar 1t tirst sight to long curved strea m-
ers OF reeds or coarse grass lying prostrat o
and whitening In tho sun by hedgerow or
river bank. Yet 1t is not the green leaves,
the withered twigs and halfdryed grass
alone that have given their coiorng to the
SNAKES that abide amidst them. Let US 20
whore there 10 no sunshine and we shall
6nd . corresponding change in their hues.
In the gloomy forests Of tropical
America the ground beneath the 10 fly
trees u covered with fallen leaves, with
rotting sticks and seed pods broken and
dscaying. forming carpet of brow n
notified with. gray and black. Far away.
above. the foliage of the tree tops is inter
laced 90 that to this lower region the
bright rays Of the sunlight seldom pene-
trsts. In vain here will you look for
snakes of green and gold and purple with
polished scales aud nimble movements
These are creatures of the sunlight. while
here 10 the abode of gloom, a waste OF
decay and death. This is the peculiar
dominion of the slow moving kinds-the
deadly vipers and the giant boas.
As IL Is difficult IN the MONDAY glare to
see the green tree snake lying amongst
bright leaves and tiowers, so here in the
shade. coiied up on his own camping
ground, IL is equally hard TO discern the
giant bushmaster, which has been known
to measure thirteen and half feet in
length. even though you pass within few
feet of his living Nsth spring. On the
withered debris beneath the branches of
the lofty oalata. when its rich fruit il
dropping in rireness To the earth, there
will you find him, snugy sleeping or
wstchiully waiting for the timid agouti
that, Needless OF danger. feeds in his vi
cinity. The dead leaves about are of a
chocolate brown; SO is he. Some are
patched with back; 30 X he. The general
coloring Of the place IS confused; so is his.
The decaylnr vegetable refuse is wrin kied
and rough III surface; SO also MS
skin (uniike that Of other snakes,
which is generally more or less
smoothly has the scales raised in
knoboy proturherauces like the excres-
eences on the rind of q pineapple. This
great, brown wiper. without doubt tho
largest deadly SNAKE in the wor 4, has his
back spannea hy numerous black saddles.
a.. the way from head 70 tail. lie would
be easy e see We're h anywhere else and
stretched out. hUt coIlcd M here among
the dead leaves 81 the ds-k foress his pat
tern Is }gmhe3 mass. ike the rubbl IN
about him. Although he vibrates his tail
Ike the rau."suake, Yet Il sometimes hap
pens that the nrst warming the untorfun-
ate nuntcr gets of has rrox mitv IS when
his foot strikes against the deadly coil
The fer lie lance aDd the diamond rattle
snake live in similar situations. and il
stretched out their som her markings are
regular enough IN arrangement. hut " hen
cooled the patt'rn - broken AMI lrrecu Al
like the Cuior,ug III the places Wherein
they lie. Thus they also are very ditsicnlt
to see For the former especially the IVES
Indian and South American hunter must
needs keep an anxious eve. He frequent:
river banks. IL Cusck - strike Auu SOW I,
move when approached. ] know OF al In
stance IN Venezuela where = hunter. II
AL snakes NAV hs divided isto tive gre