Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-12-27
SOME SNAKE STORIES

w III IL O1N n AL NJ WILL -
NOTABLE BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT
BEYOND BELIEF.
VARIETIES or UNlTLD STATES SNAKE
Differences I'm the Appearance of We.
G. Holmes, Reed Before the PhiIa.
deIphia Natural History Society.
Harmless snad generally have two
rows OF teeth in the upper jaw, and one
in the lower. these teeth being slender,
sharp. comparatively short, and not set
in sockets, as these animals do not tear
or muulate their food. The teeth are
simply used as hooks by which the food
is drawn into the snakes throat. The
bones Of the jaw being movably Joined
| together, the teeth are advanced on one
side. securing hold on the prey, and
then on the other side, in which way the
| swallowing is accomplished. Poisonous
snakes have two long. sharp fangs,
| which appear to be flattened out like a
knife blade and then bent up, forming
a groove. In some cases forming a closed
tube, open, however, at both ends, the
upper end OF which is fastened to bone
in the cheek when moves with ease so
that the fangs when not in use can be
folded or packed away. The saliva Of
all animals, even man, contains poison;
though In man it Is greatly diluted, and
OF use in assisting digestion. In the poi
sonous snakes It is collected into sacs,
or glands, placed on each side Of the
upper jaw. A delicate canal extends
from the poison gland forward under
the eye TO the edge Of the jaw, and there
opens into the tang, and 10 use the poi
son the snaks has but 20 strike the prey;
as the fangs enter the flesh the muscles
of the jaw press upon the poison glands,
squeeze the poison through the little ca
nal down through the hollow Of the poi
son fang in the wound. There is a most
ingenious arrangement In the fang. The
opening Is not at the very tip, where il
would be llaole 10 get plugged up with
skin and hesh but IL is a little way up
in front Of the groove, so that the sharp
point goes in first. and makes little
hole, into which the poison flows
Snakes vary greatly in color. some be-
ing very beautiful, and in many cases
their cOloration is highly protective,
green snakes occurring among luzuri-
ant vegetation, while gray snakes gene
rally frequent rocky districts. The skin,
which consists OF a coat Of scales, form
ed from the epidermis, and generally
overlapping each other, is shed during
the summer months The eyes have no
lids, being covered with a delicate film,
or membrane. giving 10 them that stony
glare with which we are more or less
familiar The poisonous snake has a
large, fat head, and a short, thick body,
and, as a rule, possesses vertical Keel
along the centre Of the scales while the
non-poisonous snakes have small heads,
long bodies, and no keel on the scales.
Perhaps OF our poisonous snakes the
best known are the rattlers. The north
ern rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) has
the widest geographical range, being
found in nearly every State Of the Unicn
from the Gulf Of Mexico TO Northern
New England, and west to the Rocky
Mountains. It's appearance is not very
pleasing II having a large, fiat head,
brilliant eyes, and between the eyes and
the nostril a deep pit. The horny APP
rattle, and gives to the snake its dis
tinctive name, consists Of a number of
hollow, dry rings. ending in a rounded
button, which rattle together when the
tail is vibrated, which vibrating or ret !
Ting. Is done whenever the snake is
alarmed. The exact use OF this rattle J
is not known, but 1t is supposed that |
the animal is provided with this append |
age because 1t lacks the power OF hiss
ing.
The idea that a rattle Is added every |
year is not borne out by facts. A speci- |
men owned by one observer, DR.. Hol- |
brook, developed two rattles within a |
year Mr.. Peale, the naturalist, kept |
a RATHER for fourteen years. When he |
obtained it it had eleven rattles, and dur
ing the fourteen years ii lost several; !
but new ones took their places, so that |
at the end OF this time the snake still |
possessed eleven rattles. In DISPOSE
ton the rattlesnake is mild and peace
full when not provoked, and viii submit
to a great amount OF teasing before
showing any signs Of retaliation. A friend
Of mine, when little girl amused her-
self for nearly an hour teasing a rattle
snake while it was lying In a clumb &c
blackberry bushes, by throwing stones
at it, and poking II with sticks. A rat
tier scarcely ever goes out OF its way to
attack a human being. 1t can strike
stretched out at full length quite as well
as when coiled, despite the prevalent
idea to the contrary. The rattlesnake's
alleged powers of fascination-in fact,
the powers OF fascination Of any snake
are simply mythical. 1t is only that the
presence Of the animal so inspires the in
1ividual or animal with horror that they
become fairly paralyzed with fear, just
as a person crossing railway tracks will
become so Mortified at the sight Of the
locomotive or trolley
car as to be stupefed with fright, and
unable 10 move out Of danger; yet no
Dne would say that the person had been
charmed or fascinated by locomotive or
roley-car. SO with snakes. Their pres
snee so inspires the victims with fear
that they are unable 70 move out Of their
way and are. consequently, attacked; so
hat, In reality, the rattlesnake is not
The dreadful creature It is often made
tut TO be. but a perfectly inoffensive,
harmless animal when let alone.
In the secluded parts of Pennsylvania
and on the shores of Lake Champlain
hese snakes are abundant. In Sullivan
md Ulster counties. y. Y, many men
ire employed as professional rattlesnake
lunters, as the skin is very valuable for
making belts, pocket-books, card cases,
&C., and the oil is sold for a large sum,
oeing believed by some to possess great
curative powers. Many Of these snakes
ire killed during the summer months,
,ut the great hunting season is In the fall.
when the reptiles have returned for the
winter to their dens. The hunters well
Know these places OF retreat and choose
or the hunt a bright, sunshiny day in Oc-
ober or November. When the snakes
rave come out OF their holes to bask in