The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-27


harmless in the stomach. This leads
to the premise that propaganda In
favor of conservation Of snakes will
be limited. When snakes become too
plentiful in given locality, neither
propaganda nor law will save them
from ut least partial eXterminatirl
by man. II can also be promised In
advance that propaganda and law will
obviously never be extended TO rat
tiers, copperheads and water vipers.
However valuable to man they may be
as rodent exterminators. man cannot
afford to risk his own life for what
ever good they may do. The most
beautiful creature in the world, if the
women will pardon me, is the real
python. Yet TO person can consent
10 let "A python or boa constructor or
anaconda coil around his person and
have all OF his ribs broken. Conser-
walton cannot be extended to rib
smashing, coiling snakes any more
than 1t can TO the poisonous species.
Central American Indians are eX-
perts at getting big coilins boas. In
Honduras. l went with several natives
in quest of n boa for my collection.
a
to tho upper limbs Of tree its head
DOWN. ready to coil around any pass
ing fawn or other animal for its din
ner. A native detached himself from
the group and passed under the head
OF the snake. Instantly the creature
unloosed downward and co!led around
the adventurer's body. As 1t did so. the
native thrust his knife into the boa
throat. and had a magnificent speci-
men to take away with me. II was
on the tail OF this boa that ! made
my first observation Of cancer, there
being a true cancerous ulcer present.
Just the same, coiling snakes are Of
value in the Jungle. They destroy
hordes Of creatures inimical 10 man.
Only 1000 Species.
However vast their numbers there
are only about 1000 species of snakes
in the entire world. Only four genera
of these may be said 10 be poisonous
In the United States. OF these genera
there are not many species, however
numerous the specimens, There are
only copperheads and rattlers in the
Northern States that are poisonous,
South of central North Carolina there
are the two additional types water
moccasins and an elaps related -
the cobra
Some 81 the harmless snakes, Of
which there are about nifty sEeci-
mems in the United States, bite, but
1t is a mere prick Of the skin. not
necessarily dangerous unless allowed
10 tester and admit bacteria. The
garter snakes so common everywhere
in summer and several other species
are really affectionate to man IN con-
tinement, and like to be handled and
stroked. Our snakes go under the
rocks in winter or down in the mud
or in holes In the ground or In the
punk of old logs and stubs. as the
case may be, for the cold weather
sleep. Many species. however, will not
go into Information SO long as there
are any toadstools TO eat. The garter
snake, even the young. remain in the
open until the ground begins to freeze,
feeding on the very last mushrooms
in the woods.
Ditmars says: THE movements Of
serpcnts arc sngularly quick and
graceful. They depend largely upon
the broad plates Of the abdomen, the
sharp, overlapping backward edges of
which OFFER n substantial purchase.
In crawling slowly, snake really
walks upon these plates by bringing
them forward in series along the body,
then pulling them back again. Work
| ing in this fashion. a serpent may
progress in a perfectly straight lire {;
n moment later 1t may be frightened.
when 1t threads its way among twIgs
and stones, gliding swiftly in Il series
OF lateral undulations. Most snakes
arc agile swimmers. Tho members OF