Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-10-07
NATURAL HIsroRr socIBTr.

j. t. PennypuclSer Talks of Pine snakes
and william NJ. Candy of His Alaskan
Trip.
j. II. Pennypaclser read paper on
pine or bull snakes anu William NJ.
Canby made an address on Alaska at
a well-attended meating of the Natural
History Society Of Delaware in Friends
Schuol nall Monday evening. Mr.. Penny
packer showed specimen of the snake
which had been sent to resident of
this city from New Jersey friend and
which had escaped from the residence
OF its owner. After the capture of the
make by some boys it came into Mr..
Pennyracker's possession. II is now
preserved in alcohol, Mr.. Ponnypacker
having killed il. Ii is between five
and ak feet long, but the same kind of
snake has attained length OF nine feet.
In the course OF his paper Mr.. Penny
packer referred TO the feeling of abhor-
renee generally excited ny snakes, and
went on 10 say that snakes are among
the least harmful and most useful of
animals The snake in question some
times is called bull snake from the
peculiar noise it makes which sounds
like the helowing of bull.
| In spite Of the fact that MIR. Canby
did not know he was expected to speak
on Alaska until he saw it in a nsTa-
paper ard was consequently unnrepared,
he gave most interesting talk on tho
subject. He spoke principally OF the
coniguration of the country which was
due he said, TO the glaciers. A glacier
is formed OF snowliakes compacted into
ice The Muir glacier, which received
special attention in the address, is
known to have retreated 10 miles in the
last 100 years. In its movement a
glacier grinds out channel through
the earth. In some places trees are
| growing under the glaciers, having
been protected by deposit of earth.
A long the sides of streams the hills rise
to a great height and are often covered
thickly with trees. Sometimes the
trees lose their hold on tho soil au6
whole section of the forest falls into
the stream. Mr.. Canhy described s0mt
OF the acenery as grander even than
that of the Hudson.
The speaker next turned to the rnst
Of gold which has sent thousands y
persons into the Alaskan territory. A
Skaguay the gold seekers are encHmpet
on marahy ground, where the moss is |
foot or more thick and go damp tina
place he saw several women who looket
like farm folk. All sorts of convey
ances arc used to carry goods toward
the go d fields. Animals are badl.
treated in the efforts to reach the golt
country. Whils a steamer was heini
unloaded at one of the points hors
fell overheard and it was hauled up h.
rope attached to windlass and wa
left hanging in the air for time. II
described the Whites Pass as about a
rough as the rocky side of the Brandy
wine near Wills Rock. AS to himsolf
Mr.. Candy said he did not get the golt
fever and all the gold he saw was wha
he took with him ana he left that VI
there
At the business session of the societ
garnets were received from Mr.. Canh
as specimens OF the Alaskan trip
Edward Tatnall sent list of 80 ne'
, plants which have been found in Ne,
Castle county. Walter u. Lush OK
hibited a large snail which ne ha
found in his yard. Frank NJ. Jone
sent papRw and some cotton which b
had found along the BranGywDe. Th
papaw is green on the ouside, hu
within the skin it is like the banana
: In former days il was somewhat plenti
full in this neighborhood.
> Miss Linda Palmer was elected
member of the society. j. Newli
Gawthrop, Jr., was proposed for mem
bership.
2 The following nominations OF officer
3 we're made, the election TO take piac
] next month: President, William N
: Candy; Vice President, Walter [
: Bush; Secretary, Mrs. j. p. Pyle
Treasurer, }. L. Pennypacker Men
Q bers of the Board of Directors, Fran
7 M. Jones, George Hardcastlu and Wi
mer Palmer, The present nommittt
m programme was continued for al
other year.