Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1895-11-02

~ f'1~ Va NNAass pCdtc tu6u
4 y any other region OF the Enited 4
States. and, probably. ~
sinany varieties as can be found any.
Esyhere in the world. it is the purpose
-a5a.o to mention the more dangerous
varieties Of serpents that the writer
has come across during 4 residence
there
To begin with, the puff or blow ad-
der is mlsnomer, as the true puffer
or blower is q native Of Africa, and is
10. foun1 on this continent at all. A
correct designation is "hog-nose. SO
called from the odd formation Of tho
muzz'e, which Is turned up at the tip,
ior all the world like the snout of a
hog Still. hundreds of people in
Arizona call him puff or blower adder,
and this Incorrect designation will no
Goubt cling to a harmless reptile for
all time to come. Although absolutely
without power to harm any one-for
he is neither poisonous nor constric-
tor-yet the hog nose puts on more
airs than rattlesnake, which he imi-
tates in actions, coils. aud manner or
striking, while making more noise
than goose IN furiously Kissing at
/ nothing. He acts just like q veno-
nous serpent, and yet he has not the
! least taint Of poison in his whole
length. His high, defiant attitude is
entirely without excuse, for even when
he strikes at anything he never opens
his jaws, and not the slightest scratch
Is the result. His cousin, however,
tue real blow adder, after which he is
enormously called, is ole of the most
deadly reptiles in existence His ace
Of clubs head is Il fearful object to be.
hold. and his thick, elimy hndy is da.
cidedly Indicative of venom. Hog.
nose snakes arc quite plentiful in the
mountainous parts OF Arizona. After
all the talk about serpents Kissing.
this is the only specimen Of the ophi-
dian family which l have ever heard
to utter sound
Thunder snakes are by no means
common in Arizona. vet they are Of
ten encountered by prairie travellers,
especially before and after thunder
storms, Flashes Of lightning and
claps Of thunder, which are terrifying
to bipeds and quadrupeds. seem tc
have the greatest charm aud delight
for these members Of the opbidian
family Whenever a thunder storm
comes up these snakes have peculiar
picnic. Ihey come crawling out o.
holes, from behind rocks and rotter
stumps and enjoy the fun y lille it lasts
Their character is fierce and they ar.
aggressive in a high degree, .wnicl
qualities are remark rkable IN being pos
.essed 10y serpent that is both fang
less aud innocuous Their marking
ar. beautiful Ia the extreme Alter
bate bands OF black, white, aud yellow
cover their 1.-the bodies
> The blecFsnahe is SO we'll known to al
North America that il j. hardly wort
noticing him from this point Of tn
world. We have two species in Ari
x~LsoH hAh St+
places, ponds. creek bottoms, an
shady spots. aud another thst lives il
the mountains among the rocks and i
the woods. where dead, dry leaves ar
!, plentiful an: young birds nunerou.
!, He Is noted constructor. ani be
not poisonous Nearly all s;rikau
serpents have fang~. usually loade
with poison. while the constructor
seldom ii ever strike. prctcrring
=. squeeze their enemies 30 desth- Gree
grasssuakas. b.adsnaAe., likewise ta.li
corn, garter. Aad runners are entire
too common 10 discuss
Coachwa3rs a-e remarkable i. 1.
country ,of their trensnioge le1s,
and thsss surprising speed. Tia tos
O. tbs reptile - elegantly ss-aties. !.
!. 1olo.sns IS .ae -os: delicate te.as
sad bis cons:rics.2g ,,o~ess are s.2rc
~ even surpassed b. It's boa. .,
!, coads. ), rr.lou- IL = c-ea92