New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-02
SNAKES OF THE SOUTH.
THE POISONOUS AND NON-POISONOUS ARE
DEADLY ENEMIES.
FIERCE BATTLE IN WHICH vENoMoUs FANGS
WERE USELESS AGAINST CUNNING AND
TRENGTH-BEAuTIFrL AND QUEER
sERPENTs or TEXAs AND THE RE-
MARKABLE STORIES TOLD

quota OF reptiles. poisonous and non-posonous. and
the snake-hunter will be amply rewarded for any
trouble experienced In searching the swamps and
river bottoms after strange and wonderful rep
titan FORMS But parts OF the South are erroneous
y supposed to be with snakes. while in
reality 1t IL necessary penetrate into the Wider
ness OF swamps and pine woods TO discover them
Visitors to Florida rarely either poisonous snakes
vicious aligatois. but II they should take trip
down toward the Everglades among the dense
swamps In Southern Florida they would find all of
this class OF that they could desire In the
civilized parts Of r. xas Georgia and Tennessee
the same holds. but among the mountainous regions
the prairie districts snakes in the greatest va
riety are to be seen and many of them rarely
discovered outside Of these particular haunts.
Not few OF the Southern snakes have local
names which are not recognized by scientists. and
In other parts OF the country they pass under other
For instance, in Texas the list includes the
blow puff adder. called In other places the hog
nose snake the thunder snake three kinds OF rat
t!esnakes. OF which ts the famous dlamond-back.
king snake. black snake. the copperhead moccasin.
and the cottonmouth and water moccasln: the
chicken snake. coach whip. prairie runner, blue
racer. grcen-grass snake, pilot snake, head snake,
glass snake (whose existence IA doubted by most in
tegent people, milk snake. corn snake. and several
kinds OF garter snakes.
The hog nose snake Is better known under this
name In the South than the blow puff adder.
]
native OF South Africa, and is never found In this
country. II Is deadly poisonous snake while the
hog nose" Is harmless. although 1t has the habits
and actions OF poisonous reptile. This snake. with
It's hog-shaped nose coils and strikes just gen.
uine pun adder would. and frightens those who do
no; know OF It's harmlessnc,s. 1t blows and pufs
and Kisses louder than goose. and makes such
demonstration that most OF it's enemies turn and
run away Even when 1t is correred and strikes. the
reptile does no harm. for II opens its mouth
In doing There are many of these snakes in the
South. especially In Texas. and natives look upon
them innocent reptiles which afford great deal
of Boys particularly fond Of fright
cnng strangers by Placing OF the captured hog
nose snakes close to their heels.
vENOMOUS MOCCASINs.
The three kinds OF moccasins mentioned pentl-
ful throughout the Southern States. The cotton
mouth moccasin is most vonomous creature. and Is
found more In the upland districts than is s cousin
the water moccasin. All OF these creatures have
enormously wide heads and short thick bodies They
are rather sluggish In their movements. and rarely
strike any unless close to them. II disturbed
In their slumbers they will raise the ugly-looklng
head and strike. They usually found In fresh
water marshes and flooded prairies. SIX feet ~
usually long for moccasin. but the body OF one or
that length will measure from to IL Inches In cir
conference Most OF the marshy lands and swamps
are 80 infested with these deadly reptiles that hunt
ers wear very thick boots when tramplng through
such places The fangs are slender and not long,
! that good rubber or leather boots will protect the
| hunter The snakes are too sluggish TO jump.
| They merely raise the head six inches or so
| from tn. ground and strike. In the Everglades or
Florida the finest specimens Of moccasns are found.
but the cottonmouth variety Is encountered long be-
fore one Florida Georgia and the caroi'nas
| can produce specimens Of these large and ugly
enough to satisfy most snake lovers
| Volumes have been written about the rattlesnakes
OF all parts Of the country. One noticeable feature
abou, these snakes Is that In the the States
| they are likely 10 be thicker around the body and
| larger than In the cold North. The dmlnutxe
ground rattlesnake generally called the pilot rat
tlesnake In the South. for its presence always ndl-
Gates the approach OF its larger cousin. the diamond
back the king Of rattlers These small pilot snakes
hav. tiny ra,iles. and their fangs are somewhat
| poisonous but not necessarily dangerous Hunters
always pause in their march when these little
ground rattlers run before them and then look out
for their more dangerous con pan!On. The diamond
back Is accurate In its strike as 1t Is deadly IN us
nelson II Is not a common snake but large fell
| low will do enough harm 10 make up FOR the lack oil
numbers The rattle is loud and clear so mat gen.
orally an intruder ha. ample warning Those eight feet
| long have been found In Florida. and. with body
corresponding in glrth. the monsters were peculiarly
ugly Some OF them weigh seventeen pounds. Ihese
monsters do not jump when they strike according 10
the popular notion simply stralghten their bodies
| out after coilng Unless coiled. the diamoni-back
| cannot strike half foot from is nose. ana when
| stretched out his snakeshp can easily be Destroyer;
but when the creature begins TO coll. 1t Is time 10
| get beyond It's reach When the body Is massei In
regular folds. IL Is surprising how far the hean can
! strike out by the simple Strengthening out OF the
whole length 1t is the deccptiveness OF this position
| that creates the popular notion that the rather
springs from the ground and jumps at Its victim
TEXAS A GREAT SNAKE COUNTRY
| V:sitors to Texas are astonlshed at the different
varieties OF snakes reported In the country many OF
| which are seldom seen In any other state Oh 'ne
| Union The coach whip az the natives cali iohs'
slender reptile with remarkably delicate colorngs
IL noted for It's tremendous speed and terrible con-
| strcting power. In the famous staked pia'ih' o'
| Texas these snakes said to be met with occa-
| slonally gliding over the prairie as noiseessiy d
| worm They are non poisonous reptiles but II
| chased they easily escape from their pursuers by
| virtue OF their tremendous powers OF locomotion
| II cornered however. the snake turns and IKE the
| sweep OF n whipash. winds It's slender body arouhu
the enemy and tghtens the numerous COILS uh' iiie
| IA nearly crushed out of the victim Inc Shane az
ways retreats at first. and oners hyht Only ""e'
caught The stories told about Its power OF con
| ,rc,,o, must be viewed with some doubt untl
scientific authorities investigate the question put th'
Mexican and Texan hunter say tna' ,,e I'm
Notwithstanding these assertions no one seems ao'e
to recall death OF any one IN ms r, MAJ MANY
nars OF the south about which strange stories a,
which this snake n supposed TO possess - INA. upUi
heinz struck with a stick II Will break INTO huihrour
S,n,an,s which later Will come together ana FORM
into whole reptile again Most or the stories h eo
cernlng this wonderful reptile are passd upon me
ce,"''S varhsIess there Is a so-caed glass SNAKE
in Texas which 20 closely resembles green glass ~
appearance that It deserves TINS naine pu. g..
.iuck with a small stick, 1t expires as natuta"y az
any other reptile and Il one rsiuhnS 'T ane wber
H. animal was killed. These small glass snake'
are harmless and almost the coior Oh ue ~ ,b
Slams and easily conceal themselves from nrew
They are Identical with me prppsa This rep
sle is exfednsy beautiful being OF s 1rS%n on
nraon color thai changes little IN the suh.,Sn' o'
s arLr II resembles the chameleon IN this re
| spect. ,, ,,,.,,s az Texas the thunder
on the great staked plains aa o. emonsratlons iis
| IhIInl