The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1906-02-16
gelfet Misfe(lany,
Surpent's Wisdom a Myth.

"Snakes are all right as food, but
very unsatisfactory as pets, for the
reason that they have no psychology
cal nature" said scientist now con-
nected with Harvard University.
During a six years residence in the
West be made close study of snakes
and their ways Having them in his
study unconflned and about his prem
ises in numbers, be became familiar
with them.
The wlsd, ID Of the surpent he pre-
nounces a myth, though be admits
that snakes have much cunning, are
willy to degree and per fectly under.
stand their power and limitat
For example, q rattlesnake does not
retreat in haste " hen disturbed. Real
i1ing that its bite ends the game, it is
invariably deliberate, but If left te
itself in its own good time it makes
off.
Other venomous snakes also recede
slowly, understanding as does the rat
tier, that they are equal to most emer
gencies. Contrary to the common no
ton, snakes are not hostile to man
Tue most venomous and powerful will
run from man if possible. 1t is only
in self-defence that any poisonous
snake strikes.
That a rattlesnake rattles to givs
warning of its presence is = popular
fallacy. 1t really does nothing OF the
kind. The tails Of all snakes culver
when they are excited and therefore
the rattle is heard when disturbed
Why it has rattles on it's tail no one
has been able to find out.
1t would be, according to this stu
dent of snakes, qnite absurd to con-
clude that the handsome, independent
husky raLtlesnake 10 instinctively OF
otherwise considerate of others in Civ
ing warning Of its presence. As are
all snakes, it 10 simply negative in its
attitude toward others, save when the
instinct of If preservation is aroused
when it becomes positive in self-de'
fence.
The chief difference between the
ways Of a poisonous snake and OF one
whose bite is no worse than the sting
of mosquito, is in the deliberate
withdrawal Of the one and the hasty
retreat of the other in case of danger
The large majority Of snakes are quite
harmless and slip away with all speee
at the approach Of either human be
ing or an animal, knowing that thu
ability to conceal themselves is thei
one means of preservation.
While not cretiitlng snakes will
wisdom, it is stated that in many way
they are the reverse of stupid. Tuey
are vary curious, and when they Car
do so without danger to themselves
they examine an unfamiliar Ohjec
with keen and repeated attention.
1t is related by this scientist that il
attempting to capture water snake
he put his foot on it in the soft ooZ
at the &c eek side but failed to hold it
To see what the snake would do, L'
stool perfectly still, and in few mo
ments it came back and, swimming
slowly rourd and round his foot, ex
amined it most carefully, not, as migh
be supposed, by looking at it, but hy
touching it at every point with it.
tongue, not once, but again aEt
again.
The quick thrustirg G out and draw
ing in OF the tongue is snakes way
Of fnding out VIII: things about i
mean. Tue tongue is its most imper
tant sense organ. 1t really has very
little sensation elsewhere, and thos
that are most poisonous can, if no
restrained or hurt, be moved abou
with impunity.
Yet those who handle and study
snakes constantly invariably hol'
them by the back Of the neck as ca
! dc es k.tten, and both siezA and lib