The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-04

succeeds in finding a hiding place salts
factory TO him before the frost sets in. I
have found them still abroad seeking a
refuge. as late as the 10th of November
Late i'm the evening on that date l met
with two lying out exposed in the woods,
overtaken by the cold, so benumbed that
they could scarcely move, and ready 20 fail
a prey to the frost, or the first predatory
animal that CHANGED to- find them. On
being taken into the house they recovered
and are now as lively as they ever were.
Now, bearing in mind the observations
made above on the proceedings of the
snakes during the autumn in seeking
their winter home, let US so TO the cap
tive snakes in my collection, and see if
they can give us any additional informa-
ton as to the why, when and how of their
hibernatiOns.
one of the things I have most noticed
among my captive snakes is their great
sensibilty 20 change of temperature. TOO
much heat or too much cold discompo5es
them, and they show their disapproval by
trying 10 get OUT of their cages. With
ordinary summer temperature they 2re
content. Even when autumn comes on, If
the heat in their cages be kept regular,
they show no evidence Of uneasiness. But.
let a blast of wintry wind blow on them
and the temperature continue low for
few days, and the snakes which have felt
il will give up eating and scarcely cease
from their efforts to get out to seek some
warmer place. have known snakes, af-
/ ter getting the first shock of wintry cold,
/ to give up eating in consequence for two,
! three or even four months, and only re-
gain their appetite by being kept contin-
ually at a summer temperature.
! stepped Eating When Sleep Began.
My bull snakes (Pityophis), from Texas.
having felt cold winds in September, 1896,
gave up eating at once and tasted contin-
uously till the following March, while
snakes from these Northern and colder
states resumed their feeding in January;
though they all had the same heated room
during the period. That they all had their
appetites interrupted by the first cold only,
is evident from the fact that this year
and other years when ! have been more
| careful 10 keep them at an equal heat
/ they have all continued feeding and cast
ing their skins as If no winter were reign
ing outside; the casting of their skins is.
may mention, thing they do not do in
| Information.
Now, It is only reasonable to suppose
that this interruption of appetite and great
sensibiity TO cold, and this desire to seek
warmer quarters operates the same when
the snakes are at large in the woods. as
when they are in captivity And in fact
my observations of the wild snakes on The
ROCKY hlHoch ana elsewhere leau TO tlat
conclusion.
Drawing Fnngs With Bare Hands.
Snakes become so sluggish during the
period Of their Information that they do
not even resent being touched and hand.
led. I have taken venomous rattlesnakes
and drawn their fangs with my fingers
without the least danger, although this
usually revives them pretty thoroughly
from their stupor. I had a photoCraph
taken showing how this was done such
treatment shows that snakes must be al
most insensible TO rain during Information
o"d Retreat of south Africa Snakes.
Strangely enough the snakes of troDica,
countries hibernate the same as THEN
cousins IN the north. Ii was in South Al
RIGA In May or June, 1876. that / made nv
nrst acquaintance with snakes In thelr
winter sleep. Although the eastern PROV
ince of the Cape Colony is a country wher
frost is never seen except in a very slisb
degree. still the snakes there retire fror-
the winter And the retreat of most OF
the smaller ones is very curiously and
wisely chosen. There is In South Afr.c
a species Of termite or white ant whicf
construct large anthills an over the fac
OF the country, but chiefly on the opei
plains. These mounds are made by a..