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 10 this are va
rious. but the commonest cause is IN
doubtedlv 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 of by the
hog. an animal certainly not proof
against the venom II IL enters their circu-
lation but usually well protected by lis
fat which is, in most cases, sullclentiy
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
DIT. II. II Behr Of the California Acad-
envy Of Science. attributes the increase IN
the number Of rattlesnakcs 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-
envy Of Science. reports similar IN
crease in Western Illinois as due to the
recent stock law, compelling swine TO De
penned up.
CannibnIism 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 specialtv Of the business and is paric-
ularly adapted for it, with the exception
Of some Of the harmless snakes me
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 venomous serpents have killed
and eaten deadly snakes. Among the most
renowned enemies OF the rattesnake 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 wrigglius hosts.
They are harmless water snakes. and are
regarded hy the Inhabitants as benefactcrs.
for twenty mites south OF the town Of kla-
math deadly rattlesuakes are almost as
numerous as water snakes at the falis
There is a great vital enmity between the
two species and the water snakes Kill OF
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
/ COG. GEO 10 the mile
Premiums for Slaughter.
1t is occasionally suggested that prem
FUN per head. or rattle, be paid by the
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
Uus species are numerous enough TO 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 q, appear TO
have had little effect in decreasing e
number Of the deadly "feT-de-lance, Do
probably the most dangerous Of all ser
penis. while it undoubtedly led to an IL
crease in the death roll OF the population.
The inhabitants Of Martinique have tried
various means Of Riding themselves Of the
presence Of this dreadful reptile. They
tried the hog. so redoubtablC in the case Of
the rattlesnake. with the suit Of great
mortality among the hogs. Their last ex-
pertinent was the importation OF uumbzr
OF thar little ferret-like animal from the
East Indies, called the mongoose. which
successfully cOmbats the deadly cobra. bat
as a traveller observes. The attack Of the
cobra is one thing. and that o. The fer-de-
lance-u Mich wastes no time fooling about
on end but lets out al ouce-quite an
other" and so the mongooze has taken
no active steps toward the determination
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-
cal OF the entire viper family. in which
ere included all the American snakes, with
the exception Of the corals.
The fangs Of the vipers are attached 10
the fore end OF what may be termed the
Jaw bone or maNillary. in the hollow OF
which is contained the poison sac. the con-
tents OF which are emitted through a
hollow or groove in the faugs. AT right
angles 70 the maxillary. and attached to
the palates by means OF certain muscles. is
q narrow bore. called the transpalatine
The fanEs lie normally fiat back against
the palate but when tho snake strikes a
contraction Of the muscles Of the trans
pslatine pushes the latter against the
maXillsry. which being movable. revolves
through about a quarter Of a circle. carry
ing the fangs with il until they are erected
perpendiculsrly 10 the roof Of the mouth
II has been recently shown that the cree
tion Of the fsngs is not 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 fer-de-lance the reptile
lies In coil. using its tail as a point dap
pui" and with the furepart Of its body
bent back upon itself ia several coils. thus
resembling the rattlesnake. Suddenly 8.
thoots forward its head with the rapidly
Of lightning throwing open It's Jaws al an
nngle Of $50 degrees. and thus 81 is seen
that The fangs. which are erected till they
ere al right angles 10 the jaw must point
straight al the object OF attack and that
n this object lies anywhere In the line be-
tween the commencement and completion
Of the thrust; il is bound 10 be struck fair
~ 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
70 the elspine family. the other great grouI
Of poisonous serpenis. is the coral.
denizen OF the Gulf States. One Of th,
main distinctions between this group and
the vipers lies in the fact that the maXil
larry is practically immovGble. and th'
fahgs ia consequence permanently erect
so that the snake strikes In a more or les.
pronounced curve, and snaps al the ohjec
OF attack. Unless this snap is made pre-
clsely At the righl moment the points o.
the fangs VIII not meet. and no poison vii
be injected. The swapping Of the jawi