The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-08-07
LOUISIANA HORN SNAKES.
Held in Evil Repute Among Negroes
Declared Harmless by Scientists.

Louisiana. and Averys Island in par
ticuIar, produces the largest water
snakes found on the American CONT
nent, and is the home of the noted horn
snake, the dread of the plantation
darky and the theme of his most Won
derful tales.
As a result of the find" by scientists,
the New York Geological Gardens have
sent to E. a. McIlhenny for number
of the water snakes for exhibition N
their snake department, and Mr.. Nc
Ilhenny is going to send them, as laSE-
appe, good sample OF the horn snake,
which he caught while projecting
around for the water snakes.
Just why the water snakes should
grow to the immense size that they do
in this particular locality is a mystery,
but grow they do, as specimens feet
and over in length and from u 4
inches in diameter have been captured
for the New. York Zoo. They are NOR
venOmous and subsist mostly on fish
and the young birds which have fallen
out of nests and into or near the water.
Great sluggish things they appear
while lying asleep in the sun on the
mud banks near the waters edge. but
let them into the water and after the
minnows and small fish which comprise
their food and their sluggishness dis
appears Immediately and their sIecd
and agility are wonderful.
Inc norm snake mas Tor years OeEn
the subject of legends galore among the
members of the negro race, especially
in the South. and by these people it
Is invested with an amount of wonder
fil and terrible qualities that make 1t
feared above all other varieties. lInac-
ination is necessary to furnish even the
slightest foundation for many of these
stories.
Growing to immense size, according
60 the folk lore. the horn snake car
ries destruction to man. beast. or vege-
ia tion that it strikes with the horn it
carries at the end of its tail. and ac-
cOrding to the negroes will sometimes
kill even grown trees when # becomes
angered by singing them. The tree
stung is said to wither and die ini-
mediately after the deadly weapon mas
entered its bark.
1t is presumed also that the horn
snake has had a great deal to do with
the fantastic tales OF the hoop snake
OF the darlxies which is said to take
its tail in its mouth and roll townf1;il
or along the ground toward the object
of its attack. and upon reaching it to
unwind suddenly and strike with the
sting at the end of its tail.
In reality the horn snake is. a very
ordinary looking reptile. the avera Se
being from to pig feet in length. of
a dark brown or bronze color on me
back and with the underside strine I
water snake. The head is rounded and
lacks entirely the arrowhead shape
Possessed by nearly all of the veno-
nous sna kes. The body is rather <Ien-
der. and its tail terminates in a sharply
pointed sting or horn of dark color and
very hard. 1t is this horn which has
given rise to all of the stories conceI ~
ing the species.
That the horn snake is harmless like
the water snakes was proved by sfr.
McIlhenny. who reached into the ank
in which the horn snake and perha ps
a dozen of the big water snakes were
confined and lifted them out uncere-
moniously. Little care was taken to
s,revent a bite. though the big wriE-
sIfng fellows twisted in his hands. while
several negroes standing nearby gave
signs of readiness for instant fight
should the terrible horner get away
New Orleans Dispatch to the New
York Sun.