El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-09-13
Did You KnO1C
Some Snakes
Really Useful?
Here's a Man Who Know:
aLot about Treacherous
and Other Sorts.


Washington. D. C.. Sept 1s.-"some
snakes may be very useful about a
farm and western farmers are be.
ginning 70 evince interest in the pro-
pagation OF a large plains reptile
the bull snake"
Authority for this statement, con-
tanned in a bulletin Of the National
Geographic society. is Raymond L
Ditmars. who recently returned with
his family from q curious vacation he
spent IN the Georgia swamps where
his daughter captured the most deadly
reptile known 10 that region.
Mr. Ditmars became curator Of rep
tiles Of the New York zoo because his
hobby was collecting snakes instead
Of postage stamps or heather idols.
his collection grew too large. and
perhaps too dangerous, for his up
town apartment and he offered them
20 the zoo. But the director would
not even let them into a zoo until
taker.
Belong to Same Family.
Not that Mr.. Ditmars has any IL
lusions about the dangers OF snakes.
he says. in g communication 10 the
society;
"A great proportion Of snakes has
become highly specialized It is
among these creatures that we find
the most extraordinary and deadly
weapons for the purpose OF killing
the prey that are possessed by any
Of the vertebrates-
Popular interest is always strong
regarding serpents Of great size All
OF the very large serpents are mem
bers Of single family. the Boidae.
None is poisonous, and the members
OF this family VIII kin their prey oy
conStrictiOn-sQue 1t to death.
- The largest known serpent occurs
IN the Malay peninsula, Java, Borneo,
and Sumatra. This is the regal or re-
ticulated python II attains a length
Of 80 feet Second in size IS the Indian
python inhabiting the Indian PENN
Eulas lnuO-Chiuas the Malay peninsula
and Java. This constructor grows to
be 25 feet long and is very abundant
serpents OF Value.
Throughout the temperate and
tropical regions OF the globe are
species OF serpents OF high economic
value These are mostly the members
Of the largest family Of snakes the
Colubridae. The greater number OF
the nOn-VenOmOus serpents belong 10
this family. Our familiar black snake
and king snake are members OF this
family In some parts Of the world
the rOdent-eatlng species are pro-
Jected by law Distributed through
out India Is a large ana active species
known as the rat snake. It's useful
habits are recognized IN many areas
This is likewise the case with
closely related species found through
out tropical America The creole
French call the latter the oribo. and
IN the coastal regions where the bu-
bonic plague has appeared there is
a fine imposed for the killing OF rat
eating snakes
I'D
the deadliest known serpents belong
ing 10 the same family as the non
venomous species. The Indian Ocean
and the waters OF the tropical Pa
ciflc are inhabited by great number
Of wholly aquatic. veritable sea ser
penis that possess deadly fangs and
sometimes swim in schools Of count
less thousands. These snakes have
paddle like tail TO assist them In
swimming.
The Treaeherous Snake.
Another offshoot is the subfamily
containing the formidable cobras and
their allies The members Of this I'M
portant subfamily are treacherously
deceptive in appearance. Here We
have an admirable Illustration OF how
incorrect II is to believe a poisonous
snake may be told BY the possession
Of q heartshaped head A number Of
the most deadly known snakes belong
10 this subfamily.
Most spectacular Of the elapine
Eerpents are the cobras, or hooded
snakes The genus Naja, Of Indian.
Malaysia, and Africa, contains 10 OF
these reptiles, Of which the most con-
spicuous is the Indian or specialized
cobra Members Of several allied
genera rear the body from the ground
and spread the neck in similar lash
lon
Il - rmN nIaHa
at the intruder. The ringhals. genus
Sepedon, OF southern Africa is a
pitchy black. exceedingly vicious Co
bra that receives its name from one
or two broad white bands that show
on the neck when the snake is reared
in fighting pose. As the snake arches
its neck TO glare at the intruder 1t is
liable 10 eject fine Jets OF poison for
a distance Of six TO eight feet. These
deadly streams are dangerously well
aimed.
Used By NCharmers."
The Indian cobras seldom eject
their venom in this way They are
the most spectacular Of their group,
owing TO the vivid markings on the
hood With some specimens these
appear like a grinning deaths head
These are much sought by the Hindu
for his snake charming exhibitions
In strong contrast to the grace
ful elapine poisonous snakes, the
members Of the viper family are
thick bodied and forbidding in ap
pearance. Africa IS the home Of the
typical vipers, and q number Of these
snakes inhabiting that continent are
the most hideously ugly reptiles in
existence.
The gaboon viper ranges over the
whole Of tropical Africa Tbs body
IS exceedingly thick, stub tailed. with
a huge, spade shaped head Instead
Of progressing in ordinary fashion,
this reptile throws forward lateral
loops OF the body and moves along
in an oblique direction 70 that in
which the head is pointing. A captive
specimen displayed the trait Of strik-