The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-04

said Prof Leonhard Styneger, of the
Smithsonian Institution. that our poi
sonous snakes are decreasing rapidly IN
numbers, and that consequently the dan
ger from their bites is constantly dimin-
ishing. In many localities where rattle
snakes were formerly numerous they
have now become entirely exterminated'
while in others they are extremely rare
The causes that have led to this are va
rious. but the commorest cause is I'M
doubtedly the increasing cultivation OF the
country. In other places the decrease IN
the number of the snakes can be traced
directly to their being killed off by the
hog an animal certainly not PROOF
against the venom If it enters their circu-
lation but usually well protected by IT'S
fat which is, in most cases, sufficiently
thick to prevent the fangs of the serpent
from penetrating the underlying TISSUES
On the other hand, there are localities IN
which certain species of poisonous snakes
have actually increased.
DR. H. H Behr of the California Acad-
envy of Science. attributes the increase IN
the number of rattlesnakes in some local
tiles not far from San Francisco TO the
killing of of the enemies of the snake
notably birds of prey and other snakes,
while Mr. Hunter of the ST. Louis Acad-
crease in Western Illinois as due TO the
recent stock law, compelling swine TO be
penned up.
CaunibaIism of the Tribe.
The poisonous snakes have great
many natural enemies which keep them
in check, but there does not seem TO exist
in this country any animal which makes
a specialty of the business and is partic-
81 he
of some Of the harmless snakes. The
blood of all serpents, even the most harm
less is impregnated with venom which
renders them immune TO the bites of other
snakes. and many instances are known
where non yenomous serpents have killed
and eaten deadly snakes. Among the most
renowned enemies of the rattlesnake is
the common king snake. and the rem
nants of poisonous snakes are often
found in the stomachs Of other species
Hence it seems the harmless variety
should not only be spared. but protected.
as they rank among the best friends OF
the farmer and the gardener.
For over mile along both banks of the
stream just below the klamath Falls the
snakes swarm in countless Sriggling hosts
They are harmless water snakes. and are
regarded by the inhabitants as benefactors,
for twenty miles south OF the town Of kla-
nsth deadly rattlesnakes are almost as
numerous as water snakes at the fails.
There is a great vital enmity between the
two species and the water snakes Kill OH
the rattlers in great numbers. thus becom-
ing actual protectors of the inhabitants IN
that region. The lowest estimate places
the number of reptiles in this locality as
LOCO GOO 10 the mile.
Premiums for Slaughter.
II is occasionally suggested that prem
sHN
Government for the determination of the
dangerous snakes, hut it has been shown
that there are but few localities in the
United States in which the really danger
pus species are numerous enough 10 render
even an experiment with bounty desirable.
II has been tried and is still in vogue in
India. where large sums are paid annually
to snake destroyers. but without sensibly
diminishing the fearful mortality resulting
from snake bites in that country. Even in
the little island OF Martinique it appears TO
have had little effect in decreasing tie
number of the deadly "fer-de-lance,
probably the most dangerous of all ser
penis. while it undoubtedly led to an in
crease in the death roll OF the population.
The inhabitants of Martinique have tried
various means of Kidding thems elves of the
presence OF this dreadful reptile. They
tried the hog so redoubtable in the case of
the rattlesnake, with the suit of great
mortality among the hogs. Their last ex-
pertinent was the importation of number
of that little ferret-like animal from the
East Indies called the mongoose which
successfully combats the deadly cobra. bit,
as a traveller observes. the attack of the
cobra is one thing. and that OF the fer-de-
lanee-wnich wastes no time fooling about
on end, but lets out at once-qui;e an
other and SO the mongoose has taken
81 fny I'd nfr,af fo,,
of the fer-de-lance.
The Viper Family in General.
A description of the general Characters
tics OF this serpent may be taken as typi-
eel of the entire viper family. in which
are included all the American snakes, with
the exception of the cOrals.
The fangs of the vipers are attached to
the fore end OF what may be termed the
jaw bone or maxillary, in the hollow Of
which is contained the poison sac the con-
tents Of which are emitted through a
hollow or groove in the fangs At right
angles 70 the msxillary and attached to
the palates by means of certain muscles, is
narrow bore called the transpalatine
The fangs lie normally fiat, back against
the palate, but when the snake strikes a
contraction of the muscles Of the trans
palatine pushes the latter against the
maxillary. which being movable, revolves
through about a quarter OF q circle, carry
ing the ,fangs with IT until they are erected
Yerpendicularly 10 the roof Of the mouth.
II has been recently shown that the cree
tion Of the fangs is not a necessary conse-
quence OF the opening OF the mouth. al
though most authorities who have hitherto
written upon the subject have SO stated.
In the case of the er-de-lance the reptile
lies In coil using its tail as point dap
put" and with the forepart OF its body
bent back upon itself in several coils. thus
resembling the rattlesnake. Suddenly II
shoots forward its head with the rapidity
of lightning. throwing open its jaws at an
angle OF $50 degrees and thus II is seen
that the fangs. which are erected till they
are at right angles TO the jaw, must point
straight al the object of attack, and that
II this object lies anywhere in the line be-
tween the commencement and completion
Of the thrust, it is bound 10 be struck fair
iy by the points. especially as the venom
injecting snap is not made until the VIC
tim is struck or the thrust completed
The only American snake which belong;
TO the eiapine family, the other great GROUP
of poisonous serpents is the coral 6
denizen OF the Gulf States. One OF the
main distinctions between this group anC
the vipers lies in the fact that the maxil
larry is practically immovable. and tn,
fangs in consequence permanently erect
so that the snake strikes in more or less
pronounced curve, and snaps at the objec
OF attack. Unless this snap is made pre-
clsely at the right moment the points o.
the fangs Will not meet, and no poison will
be injected, The swapping of the jaw:
Is necessary for the Injection of the venom
with both the yipers and elapines and 81