The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-02-18
SNAKE HUNT IN FLORIDA.
Many Varieties of Snakes to Be Found
 in That State.
From -Forest and stream.

From Forest and Stream
 The list of snakes to be found in Florida would doubtless be a long one. l couldn't give it to you. Most of them are perfect ly harmless. Among the most common are the gopher snake, of a beautiful dark metallic blue, and which attains length of seven feet sure, for I held one a few moments last winter which measured that This snake lives in the holes made by the gopher, as the large land turtle Is called, hence the name given him by the natives, who attributes to him won derful capacity for exterminating rattle snakes which I doubt.
 The coachwhip Is another variety, the flash of whose long, slender body will be- come a familiar sight to you. He reaches feet, too, but is slender and a racer. His head and neck are beautiful shade of brown, and the rest of his body Is covered with brown lines exactly if 1t had been braided, and the leather color makes the name of coachwhip particular ly appropriate.
 Still another harmless snake Is the king snake, also called chicken snake and rattlesnakes pilot. But with these inno- cents we are not concerned, although if one runs over your boot quickly at the moment you are standing with nerves d trife tense, waiting for the covey of quail to jump into the air, It is just pos sible you may be considerably concerned just for an instant.
 There are three venomous snakes in Blorida-the diamond backed rattlesnake. the cotton mouthed moccasn. the harle- quin or coral snake.
 The last named is really attractive with his bands of brilliant black, red and orange, small fellow, two or three feet long and slender 1t was in March that I saw the first ones In blowing among the trees of an orange grove three had been turned up by the plowshare. They were then very slow and apparently just aroused from an all winter sleep. The venom of this snake is entirely different from that of the two first named, the same antidotes not seeming to produce at all the same results but the little fel- low is so peaceful that he has to be provoked into striking. and would always rather run than fight.
 A lad of years son of the proprietor , of the place where l wintered, was play ing out doors early one bright morning before the household was afoot. He found one of these snakes repaired to the kitchen, where he secured on old case knife. with which he removed the head
 
 triumph to his father. So much for their temper. They simply don't count.
 The cotton mouth or water moccasn Is not so easy" and although not dis tnctly vicious Is still worthy of our re- spect. Like the costermonger, "he loves to lie basking fin the sun." and If you will go to the swamps in the warm months you will find him lying at length on the roots and low limbs of the cypress trees, from which he will slide quickly into the water on your approach. He Is dirty color, a brown with dull mark ings. his mouth a snowy white, hence hls name. How long he can live under wa ter never could find out, but know for a considerable time. l imagine he is much like a frog in this respect. Not many are bitten by him. for he is shy and would rather avoid trouble if possi- ble. His bite is about on par with the