The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1906-02-16

the length of the snake.
Ia the College town where these
studies of snakes were made the an
tipathy and horror with which they
are ordinarily regarded no longer pre-
walls. On.one occasion city visitor
at the scientists house announced in
terror It. there was a snake on the
steps OF the porch.
"Yes, IT'S summing itself" her hostess
replied easily. II often fear some one
will step on it. For several years
it has been about the grounds. 1t is
quite harmless, though occasionally
it captures and devours oung rob
in. Snakes are SO very fond of birds,
and they require live food" ~
For some years a large pilot snake,
picked up on Michigan prairie and
named Daisy, Was almost constantly
with this man, who, TO know snakes,
made companions of them. Often it
wound itself about his arm and it
seemed to like being there.
The dainties that snakes love he
provided and he constantly bestowed
on Daisy such care and attention as
was calculated to win snakes affec-
tions. The only result was that Daisy
grew. quite unafraid; seemed to pre-
fer to take food from his hand and
made no effort to escape, which was
all that could be expected from a crea
ture which has no atftc ION Tor its
young. Many snakes spurn their off
spring from the first, others keep
about with them for a week, giving
them pointers as to how to get on in
the world, and then leave them to
shift for themselves.
Daisy when left TO its own diver
sions followed the instinct which gives
its kind the name Of pilot snake, and
would make excursions up the sup
ports of porches and the sides of a
house or room, but was quite willing
to be captured and carried about. In
the fall it descended to the cellar, and
winding itself up in tight coil biber-
mated, without food, from the middle
Of September to the middle of April,
coming out in the spring, seeming
glad in its way to be alive.
Iu discussing snakes and their pc
culiarities, attention was called to
their beautiful coloring and markings,
which, it is asserted, are finer than
those of any other creature living Oh
land in this part of the world: to their
graceful movement in symmetrical
curves, and to the fact that they new
er make a superfuous motion. Oh
servation also shows that they serve
useful purpose in riddlng the land of
grasshoppers and other pests mimi
cul to agriculturists.
Most particular as to their food,
snakes eat only that which they kill,
and they judge of the fitness Of their
food by IS molten, taking nothing
which does not move swif ly. Field
mice and birds are dainties they es,
pecially covet, and in bunting and cap
turing them they display the guile
and cunning which the scriptures at
tribute to them.
That they charm their prey is an
other popular belief which is quite un-
supported by fact. The creatures
they hunt fear them, as a hungry
snake has way Of getting what il
goes for. and, seeming to understand
this, q bird is so filed with terror when
it sees snake that often it is unable
to fly and falls an easy victim TO its
enemy. 1t is this condition that leads
to the generally accepted conclusion
that snake has the power to charm
AS an article of diet, the blue ra-
Ger, of all snakes is said to be the most
delicate in flavor, as it is very cleanly
in it's habits and particular as to its
food The flesh of the rattler is also
perfectly wholesome and toothsome,
having a flavor, like the flesh of most
snakes, like chicken.
At an evening entertainment, given
at the home of this investigator, let.
tuce edged sandwiches OF finely mine.
ed snake meat was served, and were
suppos, d to- be chicken until it chanc-
ed that student discovered a pecu-
Iiarly shaped bone. Twirling it be
tween his thumb and finger he ap.
preached his host and asked if there
was anything, save snake. that
could make use of that bone. Being
assured there was not, the company
were soon discussing the merit of the
blue racer they had been eating.
From one snake 35 sandwiches bad
been made.-Neu York San.