The Washington herald., 1912-07-07

considered either desirable or atuactiNe'
Nevertheless they are here to stay. and
there d much that Is interesting about
them. according to q writer In Country
Life In America. much that people ousni
10 know for their own benefit as well
as their peace Of mind.
There IL probably not a snake in New
England that will deliberately attack
person without provocation. Black
snakes, or racers have been known &c
chase people, but when turned upon they
invariably fee TO a place Of safety.
Contrary to the belief of most people
only two native snakes-rattlesnakes and
copper heads-are capable of innicting
serious injury to mankind even II they
would. and as the habitats OF these two
are rocky mountainous woodlands. II Is
seldom that there is the slightest dan
ger Of harm from meeting any OF our
New England snakes.
Many innocent and harmless snakes
are killed by people who do not know
that they are benefciai to the farmer.
They are killed because the people hate
them. Snakes are not to blame for
their shape. neither are they Shiny
or nasty as many suppose. On the
contrary, their skin Is as clean and
smooth as the finest silk. When their
ways, habits and temperament are
known, and not imagined. as is usually
the case, their hideousness vanishes. and
they become objects Of interest and curl
osity.
should BE Protected.
According to persons who have made
these matters their life study. the HARM
less snakes should be included among
the farmers and gardeners best friends.
There are good and sufficient reasons
why they should be protected and their
multiplication encouraged.
Every farmer knows that field mice
dig up the ground and eat the roots
and grass In his meadows, devour guam
titles of corn and grain in the field.
and in severe winters, when food Is
scarce eat the bark OF young fruit
trees and kill them: yet that same farm
er will kill every blacksnake he finds in
his fields, inspite Of the fact that Held
mice are the snakes favorite food
The king snake, commonly known as
spotted adder" prefers rats, mice. and
lizards for his bill of fare. and, being
immune to the venom of poisonous ser
penis, ia the special enemy Of rattle
snakes, not only killing them, but de-
vouring them. The smaller snakes, none
of which Is injurious to mankind. do
much to hold in check the undue increase
of insect pests by the destruction OF
both the larvae and images.
This section of the country is favor
ed with a remarkably small snake popu-
lation as compared with the warmer cli-
mates. OF the hundreds of species in
America less than ten distinct varieties
may be considered residents Of New
England. and some Of these are SO rare
that they are almost unknown.
The rattlesnake is not common ex-
cept in certain localities. He is not
much OF a traveller and 1t is doubt
full IL he gets half a mile from his
den in whole summer. There are
fourteen species in North America. only
one of which-the banded or timber
rattlesnake-lives in New England. Its
limit of length is about four and one
half feet. This reptile is generally con-
sidered the terror OF this part Of the
country. Nevertheless. he is entitled
to more respect than he receives. His
bite Is decidedly poisonous. but he is
not looking for trouble and will never
attack a person except in self-defense.
Like almost any living creature he
will fight when cornered, but when ap-
preached he announces his presence
with his unmistakable rattle, which
tells you In the plainest language he is
capable of that he does not wish TO
be trodden on. With this warning con-
fronting you 1t is considered good
form" to stand back a little. 1t is i'm
possible for a rattlesnake to strike more
than half its own length, neither can
1t strike again until is has at least
partially recoiled. knowing this 1t is
easy to keep at a perfectly safe dis
lance.
Rationale Headquarters.
The most widely known rattlesnake
headquarters of New England are To-
Gated at Kent. Conn, where the famous
Schaghticoke Rattlesnake Club holds its
annual hunt about June l. George Goggs-
we'll. the president Of the club, who lives
but a short distance from the den, is
one of the very few surviving de-
scendants of the Scatacook. now spelled
haghticoke Indian Reservation, about
two miles south Of Kent village. where
a hugh mass of loose rocks that has
evidently been trmbling down the noun
tain side for ages has finally lodged in
this place, furnishing an ideal home for
rattlers.
No one knows to what extent the den
occupies the innermost parts OF the
nor to what depth the snakes
go, but II Is certain that somewhere be-
meath those rocks there is a very popu-
lar winter resort TOT rdttleSnakeS- In
the spring on warm days these reptiles
may be seen hiding under and in the
crevices Of the rocks or basking in sunny
hooks.
For twenty years rattlesnakes have
been hunted in this den, and hundreds
have been taken from it. At one OF the
annual hunts forty-six were caught in
two hours, and although a new crop
appears each year it is not strange that
their numbers are gradually decreasing.
Easy to Distinguish.
Every one should know how to distin-
guish instantly poisonous snake from
harmless kinds, as the former should
and the latter should not be killed. 1t
would be difficult to imagine a more
conspicuous and unmistakable mark OF
than the rattle of the rat
is both visible and audible,
and speaks for itself. In the case of the
no other New England snake
has coloring like It; any one knowing the
colors of old gold and new copper will
have no difiiculty in Identifying it,
An easily remembered rule for this
region is: Every snake having rattles or
copper-colored skin mot the brown of
the king snake) should be killed: After
it Is dead IL you wish to verify your
decision look on the side of the face
just in front Of and below the eye;
If it Is a venomous serpent c.pit viper
as they are called by serptolog.sts) YOU
will find the pit" small hole. or deep
nostril. which is not possessed by HARM
leaa SpakAs