Danville intelligencer. [volume] (Danville, Pa.) 1859-1907, 1906-11-30
SURFACE UPSETS
SNAKE MYTHS

SoPy VI tile interesting Dulletln pub
| lished by the division of zoology of
the Pennsylvania department of agri-
| culture under the direction of Prof.
II. A. Surface that has for its title
1.-The Serpents of Pennsylvania.
There is no other group of animals
i'll Pennsylvania concerning which
there is so much cruelty almost uni
| formly shown in relentless and un-
just warfare as snakes, according to
State Ioologist Surface.
lngorance, mythology and super
stltion have combined to surround
them with an atmosphere of dread, ="
says DR.. Surface, who has made care
full study of the snakes of Pennsyl-
vania. 1T is not only superstition,
but also ignorance and unnecessary
fear which have rendered it impossi-
BILE for any person 20 study them care
fully. "
For the purpose of exploding many
popular notions about snakes, Dr. Sur
face has issued this bulletin upon the
reptiles of Pennsylvania, with q speci-
al reference to their food and econ
omic features. The bulletin states
that among the myth, fallacies or folk
lore concerning serpents current in
some parts of Pennsylvania are the
following %. q.
Snakes sting with their tongues; !;
snakes charm birds and people; green
serpents are venomous there is such
creature as hoop snake which rolls
like hoop; there is horn snake,
with venomous horn at the end of
its tail; snakes are blind once per
month and regularly during "dog
| days. snakes moult or shed their
skin each month; serpents can blow
about or spit poison; snakes chase and
attack people without provocation !;
snakes and other reptiles are Shiny /;
certain kinds of snakes milk or suck
do not die until the sun goes down or
until it thunders; kill snake and
| turn it over to bring rain; snakes
spring or jump from the ground at
their victims; snakes strike from a
truly coiled position when firearm
! is pointed at the snake the reptile
draws its own head, and it is impossi-
BILE to miss it or shoot it anywhere
| but in the head; the yellow rattlers
are females and the black are mates a
snake can be made to put out its eggs
by dropping it into fire, snakes lose
their venom by being deprived of wat
er for six days or more.
| Sankes are enormously supposed to
/ have medicinal properties. as follows {:
| Calls of snakes recommended for their
bite; their oil for rheumatism, bald
ness and deafness; their skin worn for
rheumatism and stiffness; snake s
heart. oil or blood for consumption or
other ills its flesh to be eaten for
blood disorders or other troubles; a
second bite of the same snake in the
same place to cure or counteract it's
! first bite; the rattles of snakes as
charms; other parts of snakes for var
ious cures. preventatives or charms.
DR.. Surface notes the following as
some actual though queer facts about
| the Pennsylvania snakes
Some serpents swallow their young
| for temporary protection; some snakes
| play 'possum,' or act dead as a
means of defense; some snakes lay
eggs, others bear young; fangs of ser.
pents are renewed or grow in again
after being extracted the young black
snake is gray and spotted, and often
mistaken for the spotted adder, water
snake or copperhead snakes can live
year or more without food ; serpents
often eat one another some species of
snakes are beneficial as insect eaters
and others as destroyers of mice and
other obnoxious rodents, as mice and
rats two-headed snakes are not un-
common; snakes and other reptiles are
not "cold- -blooded," but are the temp
erature of their surroundings
DR.. Surface announces in his bullet
in, which was issued Saturday, that a
second bulletin will be issued as soon
as he completes his investigation of
the stomachs Of large number of
snakes which have been sent to his
office the last six months The second
bulletin will contain as much as can
be obtained from various observers
and correspondents upon the haunts
and habits OF reptiles of Pennsyl-
vania.
The second bulletin will also con-
tain tables and charts concerning their
food and breeding habits. More mater
ial is needed to advance these studies,
and DR.. Surface asks for notes or
written reports of observations, as we'll
as specimens