The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1914-07-30
DO SNAKES POSSESS
THE POWER TO CHARM
Strange Stories of Influence Rattlesnakes Possess
Over Other Animals Incident in
Barnwell Related.

snakes is more hotlE contesteu lAoH
whether or not snakes have the pow
er to s'charm" other creatures to
their death. Probably as many per-
sons can be found to take the afflm-
ative as to take the negative. What
do YOU think about it? Have snakes
the ability to subdue other creatures
and to cause their death simply by
going through some bodily motions
before them?
In the case of the average human
being, he is first frightened, or at
least greatly shocked, when coming
suddenly upon a snake. But in man
fear is frequently replaced by the
instinct of self-preservation, and the
snake is promptly killed. 1t often
happens that man is angered by
snake. The defiant. angry look of
snake is apt to arouse kindred emo
tions in man. In either case man
will not often run away from rep
tile, but will seek to put it out Of the
way.
Unfortunately for them, the lower
order of animals, for the greater
part, know only intense fear-a sort
of terror-in the presence of snake.
Their first impulse seems to be 10
avoid detection. If instinct warns
them that they are seen their most
natural incentive is to escape. But
some times for one good reason or
another small animals and birds nell
ther remain quiet nor run away
When for instance, the protective
instinct of the parent is aroused IN
them these little creatures will DEFY
any kind of snake to the very end.
The Snake and the Wrens.
The following incident, which H.
lustrates the fearlessness of parent
birds, came under the writer's obser-
vation: While fishing one day near
Summerville, S. c., the persistent
cries of little Carolina wren drew
the writer's attention away from MS
book. On the ground, about twenty
feet away, and close by the log on
which he was seated, was an OLD,
rusty tin can, once used by some one
as a. bird can. Back and forth from
the log to the can the little bird
flew continuously. Soon its mate ar
rived and both seemed greatly agl-
tated. One by one they would ny
from the log to the can, and back
again, crying and calling loudly all
the time. 1t was an easy guess tnat
the can contained a nest full of young
wrens, and that the fiedglings were
in danger from some quarter. What
threatened them? Cautiously turn
ing and searching the ground with
his eyes, the writer at first could not
see ANYTHING unusual. Growing boil
der the little birds began to fly nearer
and nearer the ground close by the
log. Taking the hint, a further and
more careful search was made.
Stretched out. we'll under the log, in
such. a way as to protect its head
from attack above, was a falr-slzed
black snake. Its forked tongue whip
ped out restlessly, but it gave no
other signs of activity. The reptile
seemed to be working up its cour-
age to the point of braving the sharp
bills of the wrens. A quick forward
thrust of it's head and the little ten
der morsel in the can would be its
reward. But the incessant f1utter OF
wings so near its head and the bed
lam of cries seemed to bewilder ana
intimidate the snake. At this juno
ture the writer undertook to interfere
in the little wood tragedy, and arose
intending only to scare away the
snake Ca black snake is too valuable
a creature to ruthlessly destroy.)
But before the plan could be carried
out the reptile darted out, like "a
flash. in the direction Of the can,
then rapidly disappeared into the
thick underbrush. Whether or not
it secured a victim it was Impossible
to tell, because OF the rapid move
ments of the snake. In this case the
little birds certainly gave no evidence
of being panic-stricken, but, on the
contrary, their movement was calcu-
lated to protect their young by con-
fusing and intimidating the reptile.
Dogs Will Fight Snakes.
In a former article dealing with
snakes, it was suggested that dogs
and snakes are not on the best Of
terms. The meeting between a rat
tlesnake and a deer hound was pic
tured, in which the intense anger OF
each creature was set out. But all
dogs are not so cautious about attack
ing snakes as the hound referred to.
The writer had fox terrier which