Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-07-14
TWO POISONOUS SNAKES
Only Ones to He Feared in the North
eastern states.

0'rom New York independently
From an examination of the list of pos
onous snakes Of the United states it Will
be seen that in the entire eastern region,
north Of North Carolina. there are but
two species of dangerous leptiles-the
timber or banded rattlesnake and the
rattlesnake is represented by various
color phases ranging from sulphur yell
low to black, There is not much variation
with the copperhead. though on some spe-
cimens the ground color is pinkish The
rattlesnake is a creature Of mountainous
or distinctly hily districts prefcrring
dry slopes or ledgy formation. is mark
ed liking for rock lodges is always to be
noted. Take a mountainous slope, with
shattered series of lodges this generous
~ clad with a growth of scrub oak and
huckleheriy bushes, ard we have ideal
rattlrsnake ground. The species is quite
ciannish, and where we find one there
are liable to be many near by. in the
damp valleys between the mountains.
VI here the woods are dark and cool. the
raitlcsnake il seldom or never seen. l.
Is in the matter Of location that we are
more liable to FIND the copperhead snake.
which suhssts largely upon frogs and
birds and prefers the lower country.
While the copperhead snake is also fond
of rocky ground, it selects damp, cool
places as rule. though il sometimes
corgregates on the higher lodges prior
70 the period of Information. The average
copperhcad will glide quietly If disturbed,
but II escape be cut off, fights bravely.
II is a more timid reptile than the rattle
snake, and more agile in gait. When pre-
pairing to strike 1t displays an honest
habit OF vibrating the tail, and if among
dry leaves produces n distinct whr. The
writer has discovered the whereabouts Of
number of ccppcrhsads from this habit.
II Is quite Wrong to imagine n poisonous
snake can spread AZ an enemy. 1t never
jumps from the ground. and seldom strikes
more than third az its length. Incl
dentally 1t should be understood that it Is
not necessary for a rattlesnake or any
POISONOUS snake to coil before striking
II can strihc from a crawling position
provided the neck can be doubled into an
S-staped loop to lurch the head FORWARD.
The average rattleSnake will seldom or
never strike man above the knee and a
par OF stlif riding legEings-puttees-w
render one quite safe from a snakes
fangs.
| Every sportsman venturing into country
known to be infested with poisonous
snakes should carry certain articles to he
used In case of accident. These inchdo
a hypodermic syringe, rubber lego,u,e
a sharp scapel or n razor. a vial Of per
nanGanate Of potassium CRYSTALS and {.
couple of tubes Of antivenine-a Pasteur
| product. The entire outfit can be carrad
| In the pocket OF roomy shooting Jacket
A bite is usually upon some part of tho
arm or leg. Everything depends unon
promptitude in performing the first two
processes. First. tho application of a liga-
| ture a short distance above the bite
Second, the lancing into the fang pune
| lures nj least as deep as they are. This
| second operation starts flow Of the
poisoned blood which should be acceler-
ated in every way possible. 1t is not dan
gerous to suck the blood away providing
! there are no ahrasions in the mouth or on
tho lips If water is near by the wounds
should be washed, then bathed repeated
ly in solution composed of enough per-
lmanganate OF potash crystals In water
to produce deep wine color II no doctor
| IL near by the antivenomous serum should
| be injected by means OF the hypodermic
| syringe in some part of the body where
1t Will quickly gain the general circula-