Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1896-04-03

Affirmative, but There Are Naturaiists
Who Say No-Claim That the snakes
victims Are self Hypnotixed.
A gopher snake AT Escondido has been
the cause Of much earnest discussion
among local naiuralists The question
Hypnotize Their Prey" one of the
naturalists had the unusual but fortunate
experience at EScondido of happening
upon large gopher snake just rs the
reptile was about 10 overcome a trem-
bling cottontall rabbit and enyelop the
animal i'll its deadly coils. For some
time the naturalist watched the snake $
movements.
Ii was within 10 on l2 inches of the
apparently fascinated rabbit. Silently
and almost imperceptibly the snake had
wormed its way nearer and nearer 10 its
victim. Its eyes glistened with IN in
tense brightness. Not movement did
il make which might alarm the timid
rabbit. The forked tongue, which to
the eye of human being is so repulsive
and intended 10 be terrifying, appeared
10 exert an entirely different influence
upon the mind of the innocent rabbit
This darting tongue either excited
the victims curiosity or caused the ami
NAL to SO concentrate its mlnd on the
snakes tongue as TO throw that mind
into a hypnotic condition of such
strength that it could not break the
spell and run away from impending
death. The forked tongue darted ont of
the snake mouth almost as regularly
and rapidly as the needle of sewing
machine rises and falls in the cloth. The
1.-the body crept nearer and nearer. The
Oh the piercing eye of the snake. Even
the waving of the wind kissed shrubs
about the rabbit failed to break the spell,
and softly and slowly grim death i'll
snake form wreathed its folds about the
creature. Then was the spell broken.
But the strong coils of the snake were
in position. Never rabbit lived that
cOuld break that embrace Of death.
Realizing at last the terrible peril, the
terrified rabbit struggled vainly to es-
cape, and rs the rings of the snake drew
closer about the frail form so tightly
that breathing became difficult the rab-
bit uttered despairing cry almost hu
man in its intenseness and sound. 1t
was the rabbits last earthly utterance.
An extra twist Of the cruel coils and
poor bunny was no more. Lungs, heart
and bones were literally crushed The
snake did not relax the pressure for full
" ten inmates. Unwinding itself, the
snake dragged the prey under an al
joining bush for dinner.
To the naturalist who watched the
capture of the rabbit it appeared as if
the snake had certainly fascinated the
animal. As a gopher snake Is not poi
sonous and has no we'll developed fangs
its only means Of killing prey is by con-
striction In order To catch an animal
ii seems almost necessary for the snake
TO fascinate the victim.
Other naturalists claim that snakes do
not possess the power of fascinating Ell
ther birds or animals. One man who has
given the matter much study remarked
that mo error Is apparently more rooted
III the human mind than that which at
tributes 10 snakes this peculiar power of
fascination. By this power they are
said 10 be able SO TO paralyze their vic.
tins that the birds or animals are rem
dered utterly incapable of movement and
wait for the attack of a snake or even go
forward to meet ii III fear and trembling,
but without any power Of retaliation.
Now, any one who watches the be-
havior of small animals placed alive as
food III the cages in which snakes are
kept III captivity in the hope of seeing
this marvellous power in operation will
be grievously disappointed. Chickens,
rats, guinea pigs. rabbits, all move
about with an utter absence Of fear Of
the snakes. Ny belief is that it is posi-
BILE TO account for the popular belief that
snakes possess power TO fascinate for
several reasons. An observer may come
on the scene and find number Of birds
mobbing a snake just as they will mob
an owl or a buzZard The dashes of the
bird toward the snake and their fiutter-
ing round 1T may easily be put down to
the effect of the snakes glance, while
they are in reality merely attempts of
the birds to drive off the intruder. A
mother bird whose young are attacked
will almost certainly behave in this way
and may herself fall victim, not 10 the
power Of fascination in the snake, but
to the force of her maternal feelings.
1t may be the mobbing of the snake
by the companions of victim that has
been seized or of "a mother whose nest
has been robbed 1t may be simply the
effect of poison already injected before
the observer has come upon the scene,
or 1t may be simple curiosity. In ninety
nine cases ont of hundred one or the
other of these causes has been at work.
What, then, of the hundredth case, and
what about the fascination exercised on
man, cases Of which have undoubtedly
been recorded? The explanation lies in
the probability that it is case of self
hypnOtism.
1t Is an error TO suppose that Will
power has anything 10 do with the eff
feet The lnoftor has hoeu talyon ~, sci -