Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-21
ENDED A SNAKE PEST.
Mount PeIee Disposed of the Deadly
Fer-de-Lance.

Fer-ue-LhnCcs
Mont Pelee's death dealing clouds were
not without a patch. at least, OF silver
lining. The inhabitants Of Martinique in
time to come will date from the earth
quake year the disappearance Of the loath-
some fer-de-lance, the most dangerous SER
pent in the world.
For years this serpent has been the per-
petual terror OF all the inhabitants. Many
efforts had been made to exterminate II,
or, at least, to drive II out OF certain Sec
lions. Considerable sums of money have
been expended in the work, and various
animals have been imported to war against
1t, but in vain.
In addition to the actual loss OF life from
the ravages OF the fer-de-lance, there has
been considerable inconvenience in working
the fields infested by It. The natives have
over and over again fatty refused to ex-
pose themselves on certain slopes Of the
island where the snakes were known to be
particularly numerous.
The fer-de-lance pest OF Martinique was,
curiously enough, self-inhicted. The snake
is not a native Of the island, Its presence
is due to it's having been especially i'm
ported. The native home Of the fer-de-
lance is in the mountainous regions Of
Brazil. 1t has been often observed that
when the fer-de-lance makes its home in a
field OF sugarcane the surrounding country
Is quickly vacated by every other kind Of
animal life. Some years ago the sugar
plantations Of Martinique and st. Lucia
were overrun with rats to such an extent
that the crops were seriously menaced. AS
a relief from the ravages of these rodents
1t was proposed to import the fer-de-lance.
An agent was sent to Brazil. where he col
lected a number Of the living reptiles and
returned with them. 1t was quickly notice.
able that the rat pest was subsiding. All
too soon, however, the islanders began to
discover their awful mistake. Within an
incredibly short time the snakes had spread
to the uttermost parts Of the islands. Here
tofore only their good habits had been
talked of. The population, taught by very
bitter experience, soon came to realize the
other side Of their character.
Thu efforts made to do away with the
comparatively harmless rats were soon far
exceeded by the attempts to drive out the
snakes Whole fields of sugar were actually
destroyed in the hope Of exterminating the
invaders, but In vain. Poisons were set
out temptingly in wholesale quantities, and
many snakes were killed, but their number
nevertheless continued to increase almost
beyond belief. Still another plan was to
turn hogs loose in the infested areas. The
pig is the only animal which does not fear
the fer-de-lance. 1t is protected from the
most venomous bites by its layers of fat.
Despite the attacks OF the snake it calmly
tramples it's enemy to death and then pro-
ceeds quietly to eat its remains. But the
porclne population failed to make any
serious inroads upon the fer-de-lance.
The fer-de-lance is the only snake in the
world which always takes the initiative in
a fight with a man and pursues hin vim
dictively to death. 1t has been found al
most impossible to escape Its haunts. 1t
usIs lily conceals itself under dead leaves or
an: d the heavy foliage of parasitic plants.
Often II is found coiled up In the nest of a
bird which 1t has devoured. From such a
vantage point 1t will spring, without the
slightest warning Of hiss or rattle and deal
it's blow as swiftly and straight as a fenc-
er's thrust. The fer-de-lance is large
snake, generally measuring from five to six
feet in length, and frequently growing to a
length of seven or eight feet. Oddly
enough, the fer-de-lance invariably travel
about in pairs. 1t is believed to be the only
snake in the world with this peculiar social
habit. This renders It still more dangerous.
The fer-de-lance were found in largest
numbers on the very slopes OF the noun
tains. The result Of all the efforts to ex-
terminate them had only succeeded In drIv-
ing them away from the coast line and cen
tiers OF population. They were, therefore,
exposed to the full fury OF Mont Pelee's
wrath. Beneath the heavy layers OF hot
ashes which have everywhere covered the
islands, the fer-de-lance has been at last
very effectively destroyed.