The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-27
he> CARPET PYTHON Of AUSTRALIA, to
SMALLEST KNOWN PYTHON. g FEET - s5Ee*so2x.

one subfamily, the Hydrophina. have
vertically compressed tail. like
paddle. They pass their entire life
at sea. Many snakes are tree climbers
and these are much elongated. really
whiplike. Some snakes are quite sub
terraneous, boring their way into
ground like worms; larger species
burrow at times in sandy places and
often have scoop shaped snout."
Cannot eros. Glass. go
In proof OF Ditmars's statement Is
the fact that Il snake cannot crawl on
glass or other smooth surface. It's
form of walking" by means Of it's
plates requires rough surface to
progress upon.
Gadow proved that fear Of snakes
! Is instructive in man throughout his
whole ancestry. He placed a snake
In its cage on his table. He then
invited an attendant TO enter the room
leading an ape. Instantly, on seeing
the snake, both attendant and simian
shrank back with fear 1t is thus
Gadow accounted for the backward
spring of all persons on encourtering
| snake. That such n fear may not
exist In other animals is shown by
the fearlessness with which q dog win
Immediately pounce on snake at
sight. Birds of prey are ever soaring
overhead to espy snakes. On seeing
one they Immediately drop out of the
skies and capture it. Birds eat both
harmless and poisonous snakes with
out toxic effects. further proving that
snake venom is inert in the stomach.
Snakes are blind when shedding
their skins. When the outer skin be-
comes hard. several times n year. more
or less. it must he got rid of so that
the snake can enlarge while swallow
ing It's prey. The process blinds the
! reptile the same as pulling a garment
over your head temporarily blinds,
you. l entered a huge den OF skim
shedding rattlers In Idaho. bowl in
the rocks overlooking the Snake River
Valley. The reptiles may or may not
have been aware OF my presence. I,
was speedily made aware of their
presence. however. by n nauseating.
overwhelming, CuCumber-like odor.
which scourEed me forth What a
fortune In tanned snake skins awaits
men who will brave the mountain
l'ptllo u'HS VI lHe west ana north
west
One snake That Attacks.
Pull the fangs of poisonous snake
and they will soon he renewed Don't
he scared at kissing, squrming adders.
step right up to them and they viii
collapse. Only mountain pilot snake
Will follow YOU, If you run. but Will
stop and run in turn Il you show
fight. This species alone will spring
at you. II on an elevation, say ledge
Of rocks where he can got sufficient
purchase. but he won't fight il no
fnds YOU are pugnacious. don't
get" the antics Of these fellows, who
come crashing through the unde.,
brush at one only TO turn tail ana
: run II you show fight Doubtless they
get much small prey by such bluffing
30 THAI pursuit Is merely "A habit with
them. The mountain pilot by the way,
a hlaCksnake really. Is the longest.
( largest around and weiRhtiest snake
| in the northern sections of the country.
The southeastern diamond backed
RATHER Is its alter ego In these re-
spccts in Florida. and Is one of the
most dangerous brutes IN North Amer
lea. lie prepared for a fight to the
, finish when you meet one. When in
/ their bailiwiCk / carry stout, I'M
: breakable stick, five feet long. In
one end Of the stick is q screw eve.
Below IL Is firmly fastened one end Of
n long piece Of malleable copper wire.
which runs through the screw eve.
/ When l meet his snakeship, I cast a
loop over his head, tightening the
coil at his throat. That's his finish
and my museum specimen.