Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-12-20

r. They ARE BROUGHT 70 BAY

For bong tine ! have o~nru4 NM
nsfion from others nbout . eBmUoo
trick q TIE ordinary blowing viper.
sr sprsadbssd snake (hstsrojon. - 49,
srzl spsefm,- have observed thst such
animals visa mach worried % slight
II hart will ffslzsnt9 fsigD d1esh.
Tia hahst bas doub<ien hnnn oftsnre-
ported b<fnrs. bat ! DO not recall having
sscn doGnits mention ~ n IN pr1ne hut
oncs. several months ESQ spns ons
writing sbcut snakes In daily news
paper alluded % this matter. and eAvs
- an explanation the o3hand statement
that the snake became frightened and
tainted from fear" That this u not
The explanation win. think. appear
from What hevs noted about several
cssss that came under my own observa-
ton
The frst tine ever no<iosd this b.
hsvior On the part Of snake was when
was . child. At that ome vas one
dxy crossing hcid. accompanied By an
old negro nan and email dog. The
dog found . common black spreadhead.
and without actually taking hold Of II
began 10 worry 10 by running around
II. snapping at IL and barking. Anxiona
10 save my friend-ths dog from what
] supposed was deadly psril. struck
the snake with the only weapon quickly
availabls. small whip ! carried In my
hand. The snake Immediately elected
Q toad 10 had recsntly swallowed. then
appeared 10 bite itself in the side. and
promptly turned on its bacx and stiff
ened. bat did not become stretched
straight out. and lay perfectly still.
There was not even q wiggls In tn tail
when pinched- Believing. a. ] then
did. that all snakes were venomons,
supposed this one had killed himself.
and remarking that he seemed dead
enough" was On the point Of leaving
him. But the old negro said: "Oh.
moi II you leave them when they bite
themselves, then their mates come along
and lick the bite. and they come to-
So l smashed the snakes head In
way that no amount Of licking would
ever heal. The old man evidently
knew By some means that snakes
which appeared thus to commit suicide
would recover. and knowing no real ex-
planztion Of why they shoald he in
vented one. Therein he followed the
example of more eminent men than
himself Before I again noticed such
action by . snake bad studied zoology
q little, and had learned that the spread
bead Wa said 70 Be nonyenomous.
Consequently when next met ons and
began to cultivase q closer acquaint-
ance with him. aud he seemed after
time 20 kill himself. WA much sur
priced. and began to investigate his
mouth 10 see IL he did not have poison
fangs after all he, a. they all do. had
turned himself on hts back and was lying
rigid In that position. In the course OF
my Investigations turned him over.
right side mp" again. He was play
ing dead % earnestly that he could not
lie In 90 iifsliks position, but immedi-
stsly turned himself on his back again
Thm Of courss knew that . snake
which wss TOO dead to stay in the po-
sition In which placed him was too
alive to be very badly hart. deter
mined 10 watch him. Accordingly ] re-
moved him 70 smooth, clear place and
then Withdrew TO . little distance 70
quietly watch Developments. In about
Is minutes the snake cautiously raised
his head and two or thres inches Of his
body and looked around II he saw me.
no failed to recognize me, and in few
seconds had turned kimslef over and
vas making OF. When I advanced
quickly toward him, hs redoubled bis
sderts 10 escape. bat was easily cap
tursd- lie did not. at that time. again
play pos~um-
Often since then have watched them
go through this prctendedsuieide. Usu-
ally when becoming active again. they