Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-23
SNAKE TALES BY A SCIENTIST.
Curator. Ditmars Tells of Snakes He
and His Friends Have Met.

From the New York Sun.
In the course of a lecture in the Bronx
the other evening Curator Raymond l..
Ditmars Of the Bronx Park reptilian collec-
ton let slip a story not found in school
text books. He was describing the vicious
disposition Of the diamond back.
Only one case Of genuine domestication
Of this species had ever reached his ear
There was a man down in Florida who SO
enjoyed the intimacy of snakes-rattle-
snakes above aIl-that he tanned a RATHER
and handled him quite freely.
When the rats began troubling the gen
tleman's chicken yard he used to let the
snake out In the evening to destroy the
pests. One night he left his reptilian play
mate out all night, although the neighbors
had threatened to destroy 1t IL found at
large.
The gentleman was awakened in the
night by what sounded like mans groans
downstairs. With his slippers and candle
he sailed down to investigate, and dis
covered a burglar half way over the win
dow SILL The faithful rattIer was coiled
around one leg Of the burglar and had his
tan out of the window rattling for the po-
lice.
The little blacksnake Is credited with pro-
dlgious powers in some rural communities
Mr.. Ditmars never saw ono longer than six
or seven feet, but farmer in the back
country reports a specimen at least ten
feet In length.
This snake raided a chicken yard all one
summer. until one day a watch was set
and the marauder was interrupted Just as
he had slowed away a fulI-grown rooster
He scuttled Oft the way he had come. but la
trying to crawl between two fence rails
the bulk of the chicken in his stomach
blocked all progress half way through.
Just then hen strolied along the other
side of the fence Unable TO resist the
temptation, the snake engulfed her. too,
md was ina Ia IN r,,fxy aGt
When the farmer was asked for the skin
of this monster 1t was not In evidence He
didn't pay much attention to such things,
the rustic explained. Probably he had
burned the carcass or the pigs had eaten 1t.
There Is pugnosed belligerent little
reptile known as tho hognosed adder that
has a trick of playing possum when at
tackled. II 1t once gets started on the role
the snake can be tied into knots and
handled Unfortunately for an hour or
more The darkines of Florida believe that
this reptile is particular chum OF the devil
and endowed with poisonous breath, al
though 1t Is really quite harmless
While snake hunting In the south a wear
or two ago Mr.. Ditmars plotted TO win the
admiration OF his guides and the popula-
ton by announcing that he had marvellous
powers. He was endowed with the gift OF
destroying life by sign.
The natives had never heard of this pos-
sum stunt OF their dreaded adder, and
when the performer formed them In a
circle arotind a specimen found in the fields
they quaked in their boots: such as had
boots. The magician advanced rapidly as
IL to attack the inciosed snake, pointed
hts finger TO the sky. muttered to himself
and the adder obediently turned on its
back.
It was timidly passed from hand to hand
The performer beamed with satisfaction
He would go one better. If the audience
would form a larger circle he would restore
life 10 the dead reptile
The audience obeyed. The snake found
all r1x1f IN la off
minutes. and turned oyer. to slide away to
parts unknown.
Ar. Ditmars faced around to accept the
was all still life. To the last ragged urchin
his assistant shakers were gone never to
exhibit their faces IN camp again