The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-07-06
HUNTING SNAKES.
Some Men Follow the Business for None!
and Some for the Cause OF Science.

Some Men Follow the Business for Money
and Some for the Cause of Science.
Serpent hunters have nothing In common
with their aristocratic cOnfreres who go over
hill and dale in pursuit of nobler game, says
the Paris Figaro. They do not wear an elegant
costume, are not accompanied by thorough
bred dog, and never ex perience the excitement
of firing st-and missipg-thsir prey with q
double-barreled gun Of the most approved
type.
They have no other weapon than a stick, and
are dressed in rags Hunting is not an smuse-
ment for them, it is not for pleasure that they
pass whole days in the woods in all weathers;
it is their profession" and they do it for q
living.
In some countries there is price set upon
the heads of serpents. In Alsace- Lorraine the
premium is Is pence; consequently the snakes
are being hunted with great assiduity.
In India fairly large sum is spent every
year in premiums, but the reptiles seem rather
to increase than decrease. In the eyes of the
Hindoos the serpent may be deceased relative
who has assumed that form (; it is often yene-
rated, and il supposed to have the power Of pro-
tecting cattle from animals which prey upon
the beasts.
A few outcasts, who live in the jungle out
side the pale of caste and religion, have hit
upon nice little idea for despoiling the Govern
tnoy EdlSo pcHbS IOH VIC GA DISoo phk-
pose of getting the premium.
The serpent hunters of the forests of Europe,
unlike those ofIndia, have no in genious method
OF increasing their incomes. Almost all of
them belong to the class of individuals who,
because they have no fixed trade calling. are
looked down upon in the country districts.
They conscientiously kill every reptile they
come across.
Very different from these ragged vagabonds
are the men who, for love of science and to make
a good collection" of snakes, pass day after
day in the depths of the forests in search OF
rare specimens
One of the foremost of these is Herr Koch,
who has devoted his life to the study of venom
Gus reptiles. Although rs years old, be still
follows his hobby, and does not shrink from
long walk through the woods in the worst of
weather if there is a chance of find.
Herr Koch says that serpents in captivity
never awake from the Winter sleep. Once be-
numbed by the cold weather. they fall asleep
forever, and the warm rays of the Spring sun
are powerless to recall them to life.
In order to avoid this, the learned collector,
at the beginning of Winter, takes his charges
to the place where he captured them. and he is
sure of finding them again when the mild tenn
peratHre makes the sap flow in the branches Of
trees and warns the blood of reptiles.
In cold weather they remain huddled up in
the heather, and il requires very practiced
eye TO distinguish Them from their surround
ings. One rainy day Herr Koch captured
seven vipers in a spot where several people had
been standing about without having suspected
the presence of the reptiles.
On one occasion Herr Koch went hare shoot
ing. quite against his custom. Suddenly be
perceived viper. and ne forgot the hare and
went for the serpent. In the twinkling of an
eye the reptile was captured and placed in the
game-bag.
few miuutes afterwards the eminent natu-
ralist felt something cold behind his ear. 1t
was the viper, which had escaped from the
game-bag and climbed up under the hunters
coat and vest. As quick as lightning he had
his coat off and threw it on the ground. The
reptile might have bitten him dozen times.
Why had it spared hm7
Koch has discovered the cause of these fits of
relative gentleness the part of his friends.
Very dangerous in Summer. especially when
exposed to the heat of the sun, it is much less
prompt to bite in the shade when the temporal
ture is low. It's gentleness depends upon the
and the state of the atmosphere.