The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1895-11-26
LAND OF SNAKES.
ARIZONA Is RICH IN VARIETIES
OF REPTILES.
The Ways OF the Harmless Hog-Nosc
Thunder Snakes and Coach
whips-The Terrible Bloat-
ed Rattlesnake.
RlZONA possesses more varie-
ties of deadly serpents than

many varieties as can be found any
where in the world. 1T is the purpose
here to mention the more dangerous
varieties of serpents that the writer
has come across during a residence
there.
To begin with, the puff or blow ad-
der is a misnomer, as the true puffer
or blower is native of Africa, and is
not found on this continent ut all. A
correct designation is "hog-nose, SO
called from the odd formation of the
muzzle, which is turned up at the tip,
Tor 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
doubt cling to harmless reptile for
all time to come. Although absolutely
without power to harm any one-for
he is neither poisonous nor a constric-
tor-yet the hog-nose puts on more
airs than rattlesnake, which he imi-
tates in actions, coils. and manner or
striking, while making more noise
than goose in furiously kissing Mt
nothing. He acts just like veno-
nous serpent, and yet he has not the
least faint of poison in his whole
length. His high, defiant attitude is
entirely without excuse, for even whep
he strikes at anything he never open
his jaws, and not the slightest scratch
is the result. His cousin, however,
the real blow adder, after which he is
enormously called, is one of the most
deadly reptiles in existence. His ace
of clubs head is fearful object to be-
hold, and his thick, Shiny body is de-
cidedly indicative of venom. Hog
nose snakes are 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 1 have ever heard
to utter sound.
Thunder snakes are by no means
common in Arizona, yet 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 to
have the greatest charm and delight
for these members of the ophidian
family. Whenever n thunder storm
comes up these snakes have n peculiar
picnic. They come crawling out of
holes. from behind rocks and rotten
stumps and enjoy the fun while it lasts.
Their character is fierce and they are
aggressive in high degree, which
qualities are remarkable in being DOS
sessed by serpent that is both fang
less and innocuous. Their markings
are beautiful in the extreme. Alter.
nate bands of black, white, and yellow
cover their 1.-the bodies.
The BLACK snake is so we'll known to all
North America that it is hardly worth
noticing him from this point of the
world. We have two species in Ari-
IONA, one which inhabits marshy
places, ponds, creek bottoms, and
shady spots, and another that lives in
the mountains among the rocks and in
the woods, where dead, dry leaves are
plentiful and young birds numerous.
He is noted constructor, and he is
not poisonous. Nearly all striking
serpents have fangs, usually loaded
with poison, while the constructors
seldom if ever strike, preferring to
squeeze their enemies to death. Green
corn, garter, and runners are entirely
too common to discuss.
Coachwhips are remarkable in this
country for their tremendous length
and their surprising speed. The form
OF this reptile is elegantly slender, his
coloring is the most delicate beauty,
and his constructing powers are scarce
ly even surpassed by the boa, ana
conda. or python. He is cream or
clay colored, very much like the hard
baked prairie over which he glides, is
very long in proper tion to his diane
ter, and his scales are arranged in such
manner that they closely resemble the
plated leather OF whip. The move
ments of the coachwhip are like chain
lightning. Not endowed. with poison,
he has tremendous power of locomo-
tion and terrible strength in his long.
slender coils, which he wraps about
the limbs IN such fashion, binding
them to the body and rendering his
victim perfectly helpless. He forms
his coils into a living lasso, and they
are capable Of crushing almost any
thing within the deadly rings.
A Mexican warned the writer once
in Yuma 60 beware Of the coachwhip.
as one would of q rattlesnake, for q
friend of his, after chasing one for
some distance and seeing it dart into
a hole. seized the reptile by the tail
and pulled it forth. Like a flash the
snake threw itself on the man, enveI.
oping him in coil after coil, and would
have squeezed the life out of him had
not my iDformer, who CHANGED to be
near, caught it by the tail and IN
wrapped the coils. This is a very easy
thing to do, for while his constructing
powers are great, yet child catching
him by the tail could easily unwind
his bands.
Rattlesnake pilots are sure indi-
cation that the true RATHER is some
whore IN the vicinity. They seem to
desire the company OF their danger.
Gus kinsmen, and by some people
pilots are often mistaken for the true
breed They are in reality ground
rattlesnakes, with the same diamond
back markings, are slightly poisonous,
have a short, thick, chunky body, but
nc sign OF rattles about them. There
is another snake in Toraa aud Ar;1o,,o