The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1910-01-11

easily disabled by a slight stroke
which d~isjoints the vertebra. ne
wound inflicted by this snake Is gen
orally mortal, and its own flesh IS no
aubidate for an accloeA'aA seii-i1i
hicted oun
1t is a fallacy to think hat 2 rat
lesnake can only strike while he is
in a coil. He can strike in any po-
sition, but, perhaps, il given Tune
would prefer to coil, as in this posi-
ton he can shake his tail better and
give warning. I have seen one
strike when stretched straight out.
and it seemed to me that he jumped
several lengths: but Audubon puts
the distance at two-tnirds of the
snakes length.
Perhaps the best remedy for a
snake bite, is to suck the Wouno
quickly, if it can be got at.
Unless there are sores in the mouth
there would be little danger.
Snakes like men and dogs, do not
bite unless they get mad; and yet the
dog doctors have not found rabies IN
the heads of makes: these are only
for men and dogs. We nave lew
poisonous snakes in North Carolina,
but it is well not to believe it.
Inc GdZUI-DtCh vi Id L ACS
is a great enemy to all snakes, Gle,
stroying thousands Of them. The
hog having no veins is immune to
external poison
Upon an occasion while sitting on
the bank of Neuse river, lazliy watch
ing my corks f1oat, [ noticed q rifle
on the water some distance away; ana
as it approached the bank l espied
the head of a catfish, lifted out OF
tho xJotar Then So a nlOCcaSln
behind it evidently propeliing the
catfish. It was such a curious pro-
ceeding that / was forcibly reminded
Of the resemblance to @ tus-Dodt
pushing q lot of coal barge through
a canal. Upon closer observation ]
saw that the snake had caught the
fish tail first, and had swallowed 1t
up to the two side fins, which latter
had opened straight out. indicating
that the catfish refused to move
further down towards the gridiron.
This serpent was q wise one, too. 1t
was bringing the fish to land, where
it would be powerless, and could be
elected and then taken heau on.
When near the bank, where the water
was a little deep, knowing that 1t
could not lift it's heavy prey bodily
out of the water, the snake deliber-
ately Veered around, and swung it's
tail up the bank, where it hitched on
to q small twig. Alter a few min
utes of strenuous endeavOr it brought
itself and the fish on to dry land. ]
was cruel enough to kill the snake,
and 1 helped the fish flop back into
the water and live.
l have frequently watched snakes
catching minnOWS in q pool OF clear
water. They are very quick in their
movements under water, and their
sight is perhaps as strong under as
above water. They are great fishers.
They will take a minnOW on a hook
as readily as a pike or bass will do.
| have ugh many snakes on my
turtle hooks. which We're baited with
live frogs. Furthermore, it is we'll
known what g. terror to toad frogs,
a snake is both on land and in water.
A distinguished citizen Of Rich
mond county related to me that while
on a "stumping' campaign some 40
years ago h was passing in his
buggy under the o~verhanging boughs
Of a large blackjack tree, when he
heard such an unusual commotion
overhead that he halted to investigate
the matter. He saw, away out on a
Dough Of the tree, a squirrel that was
barking and chattering in great dis
tresS.
A few feet distant, and nearer the
trunk Of the tree, there was a large
black-snake facing the squirrel. The
snake slowly lessened the Intervening
distance, until when within a foot of
the squirrel, it seemed to draw itself
shorter from the tail end, then it
suddenly stretched out and seized the
squirrel.
There was an attempt to coil about
the squ!rrei, but both animal and
reptile. losing foothold, fell to the
ground. The snake had not let the
squirrel loose, was unhurt by the fall.
and enfolding the squirrel in this coil.
killed it by strangulation.
was this fascination No, says
AUDUBON, 1t was sight. foresight and
cunning.