The herald., 1893-11-12
FEIGNED DEATH IN SNAKES.
They Pretend TO Commit Suicide When
Cornsred by an Enemy.

They Pretend 10 Commit Suicide When
Cornsred by an Enemy.
J. W. Fitzpatrick, Fayette, Mo-, in
Science: For long time have desired
information from others about a COM
mon trick of the ordinary blowing viper,
or spreadhead snake (Heteredon, in
several species). have observed that
such animals when much worried, or
slightly hurt, will frequently feign
death. This habit has doubtless been
often reported before. but do not recall
having seen definite mention OF it in
print but once. Several months ago,
some one writing about snakes in
daily newspaper alluded to this matter,
and gave, as an explanation. the off
hand statement that the snake became
frightened and Tainted from fear."
That this is not the explanation will, |
think, appear from what l have noted
about several cases that came under my
own observation.
The first time ever noticed this be-
havior on the part OF q snake was when
was child. At that time was one
day crossing field accompanied by an
old negro man and small dog. The
found common black ''spread-head,"
and, without actually taking hold of it,
began to worry it by running around it,
swapping at it and barking. Anxious
to save my friend, the dog, from what 1
supposed was deadly peril, struck
the snake with the only weapon quickly
available, small whip car
ried in my hand. The snake i'm
mediately elected toad it had recently
swallowed, then appeared to bite
itself in the side and promptly turned
on its back and etiffened, but did not
become stretched straight out, and lay
perfectly still. There was not even q
wiggle in its tail when pinched. Be-
lieving, as I then did, that all snakes
were venomous, supposed this one had
killed himself, and remarking that
he seemed dead enough" l was
on the point OF leaving him. But
the old negro said, "Oh, mol If
you leave them when they bite them
selves, then their mates come alo4g and
lick the bite, and the come to-" So
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 explanation of why
they should, he invented one. Therein
he followed the example of more emil
nent men than himself. Before again
noticed such action by a snake, had
studied zoology little and had learned
venomous. Consequently, when next
met one, and began TO cultivate closer
acquaintance with him, and he seemed
o. ffop 70 LII hfuooo1f h
surprised, and began to investigate his
have poison fangs after all. He, as they
and was lying rigid in that position.
In the course OF my investigation l
turned him over, fright side up"
again. He was playing dead 50 earn
estly that he could not lie In 90 lifelike
a position, but Immediately turned him
self on his back again. Then, of course.
l knew that snake which was too dead
to stay in the position in which had
placed him was too alive to be very badly
hurt. l determined to watch him. Ac-
cordingly | removed him to a smooth,
clear place and then withdrew to little
distance 20 quietly watch developments.
In about 15 minutes the snake cautious
ly raised his head and two or three
inches of his body and looked arour d.
If he saw me he failed to recognize me,
and in few seconds had turned himself
over and was making of. When / ad-
vanced quickly toward him he redou hled
his efforts to escape, but was easily cap
tursd. He did not, at that time, again
'ssplAy 'poseum."
Often since then have watched them
go through this pretended suicide.
Uaually when becoming active again
they behavelike the one just described,
but occasionally when they find them
selves oyertaken as they are making off,
they will ct once again feign death.
Sometimes while "plsying dead" if one
is sharply pricked with q needle or
otherwise iacutely stimulated, he will
promptly resume his interest in sur
rounding things and either chow fight
or try to escape.
Occasionally, when have spoken to
friends about this matter, and they have
shown disposition to regard my state
ments as "snake stories" in the popular
sense of the expression, / have been for
tunate enough to get hold of a spread
head and show them what l had before
described to them.
Ii is usually easy to provoke Heter-
odon niger, H. platyrhinus. or H. sinus
into feigning death by striking him with
small twigs or good bunch of broom
straw. or by little brick handling.
wish Soma one else would examine these
snakes with reference to this habit and
report his conclusions. l think ''faint-
ing from fear" is shown to be wrong by
the snakes refusing to stay in any other
position than fiat on his back"
Recently while conversing with friend
about this matter, he suggested that
perhaps the rattlesnakes which are 80
often provoked into biting themselves
and then seeming to die, were also act
ing deceptive part in order to escape.
This seems more probable, as one noted
experimenter, DIR. 8. Weir Mitchell, says
that the injection of mathematics venom
into the snakes own circulation does not
appear to cause any special inconven-