Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-30

the atmosphere which surrounds it. 1t de-
composes the air. which, imprudently in
haled, induces languor. The person wastes
away, the lungs are affected, and in the
course OF four months he dies of consump-
t1on. That Is fair specimen of the yarns
tnat used to be propagated by alleged scien-
unc men respecting snakes. The explorer
Livingstone tells of a snake in Africa
winch utters a cry by night exactly like
the bleating of a young kid
Snakes in general indulge in an annual
sleep OF several months duration, which
may take place in summer or in winter
Ihis aestivation or Information involves an
almost total suspension of the vital forces.
Many serpents in warm countries resign
themselves to death-like repose and tenn
porary tomb by burying themselves in mud,
which is hard baked over them. Thus they
remain. sealed up until the rainy season
loosens the soil and frees them. The prai-
rie rattlesnake undergoes this species Of
torpor In the dry canyons Of the Rocky
mountains during the droughts of July
and August. Snakes remain torpid on an
average half the year. 1t is a winter sleep
In colder and temperate climates, and a
summer sleep in hot ones The green gar
ter snake of the United States hibernates
eight months out of the twelve. One pc
culiarity of reptiles is their ability to with
stand an astonishing degree of heat. On
the hottest day in the hottest places on
earth one surprises snakes and lizards
basking in the blazing sun-glare on sands
and rocks which would almost blister the
supplied with oily fat. Thick layers Of 1t
line their intestines and this is gradually
absorbed during their torpor.
Their Power of Endurance.
1.-The power of endurance in serpents and
their independence Of large supply Of
oxygen render them important agents in
the economy of nature. In the swamps and
morasses where malaria abounds they are
most numerous Many such places under
canopies of pestilential vapors swarm
with insects, mollusks. worms and the
smaller reptiles on which snakes mostly
feed. They are the scavengers Of such
tanning the balance of nature even to the
extent of rendering certain countries habit
able.
Those snakes which dwell in the high
lands, in sandy or rocky districts, common
ly select sunny hillsides when frost sets in
and hide themselves under stones or in
caves, where sometimes they congregate In
vast numbers. In Australia serpent hunt
ing is favorite sport for boys. They lay
traps Of large fiat stones in places where
the reptiles are likely to resort. Sometimes
they will capture half dozen or more Of
dinerent species under one rock. Even
the venomous kinds may be easily captured
and put into bags in their half-dormant
condition. Great numbers of snakes Sc
cured In this way by collectors have been
furnished TO museums. They are gathered
by hunters after the native marsupials and
exported.
Another ophidian delusion long entertain
ed has had to do with the water VIPER or
horn snake Its tail ends in a blunt horny
point about half an inch long With this
instrument, as is alleged, the serpent is
able to mortaly wound men and other ami
mals. III struck into a tree, the latter in
stantly withers, turns black and dies Thus
Is this remarkable reptile supposed to be
armed with death at both ends. OF course
the notion is an absurdity. 1t is worth
knowing that If one is attacked by a boa
constructor the only thing to do is to take
hold OF the tip of the tail and unwind him.
III there is an opportunity to strike him, aim
at the tail. The spinal cord there being
only thinly covered with bone. it is more
easily wounded, and when the spine is
broken, the animal is disabled One of the
II ost curious of popular fancies respecting
SNAKES has to do with the so-called hoop
snake OF this country. which is supposed to
be able to take its tail in its mouth and
roll down hill. This idea may have arisen
from the manner in which this serpent pro-
ceeds sometimes by series of leaps RAN
ioiy extending itself to full length. it brings
It's hinder part into a loop and springs for
ward, repeating this operation with amaz-
ing rapidity, so that to the eye il might
easily produce the appearance of rolling in
hoop fashion.
The Double Walker.
There is a well-known snake called the
double walker from its ability to 20 for
account 1t has been alleged to possess two
heads. and to this belief Pliny who might
be termed the father of lies In natural his
tory, has given his Endorsement. This. IS
matter of fact. is burrowing serpent.
To escape from its enemies. such az larger
ophidians and carnivorous birds. it must
be able to retreat to it's hole with CELEBRITY.
hence the peculiar power described These
serpehts hVe chieny In ants nests. feeding
on the insects and protected by their cuirass
OF hard, polished. close-set scales from bite
or sting. Their young on being Matched
find food ready at hand, the eggs being laid
| IN the nests OF the ants. In countries where
dangerous ants swarm these snakes are
most serviceable. nature having seemingly
brought them into existence for the purpose
OF keeping the predacious insects in check.
In many respects snakes are wonderfully
well equipped by nature. Prof. Owen said
OF them that they could outclimb the
monkey, outswim the fish, outleap the Ter
boa. and. suddenly loosening the coils of
their crouching spiral, they can spring into
the air and seize the bird on the wing.
With neither hands nor talons, they can
outwrestle the athlete and can crush their
prey in the embrace of their overlapping
folds One puzzle about them is their
method OF progression. 1t is effected by the
extremities OF their ribs. which. though be-
| meath the skin, act in a manner as feet
In some species there are more than 400
vertebrae or joints in the spine, each having
VI TlpS frOI. huxley once
said that the most beautiful piece Of
anatomy he knew was the vertebra of a
snake. Each two vertebrae are Joined to-
gether by a ball and socket Joint and have
| eight other joints in addition. The ball and
| socket joints admit of every variety Of
curvature and the utmost pliancy Of move
ment.
"All fresh-water snakes are harmless. In
| this category are not included such serpents
| as the moccasin, which merely frequents
| streams and banks. The true ophidians of
| the fresh water inhabit rivers and estua-
| ries feeding on fish and rarely coming to
| land. Some of them frequent brackish wa
| tiers and even enter the sea. They all bring
forth their young alive in the water. These
| snakes chiefly belong to tropical and semi
| tropical regions, though in this country
many of them frequent rivers that are
| frozen over in winter, during which season
| they hibernate in holes near the banks.
The Sen Snakes.
Among the most interesting of all ophi-
dams are the sea snakes, which are found
| In vast numbers in the waters Of the In
| dian ocean and other eastern seas. They
| have tails flattened like fins to serve as
rudders. To exclude the water when they
| dive their nostrils are furnished with q
| valve. Their lungs extend the whole length
of the body as far as the tall and. retaining