Evening star., 1944-10-02
This and That
By Charles E. Traceioell.
SILVER SPRING, MD.
Dear Sir:

SlLNEfI SEHlN1, NIL.
Dear Sir:
"A few years ago a newspaper ac-
count of snake caught In spider web
occasioned considerable comment I
have found that that was not q unique
occurrence. For several summers past /
have found from two to flve or six small
snakes caught in webs in my basement.
The snakes are dark gray, nearly black,
with light or yellow bellies and collars,
and the young ones are about six inches
long. Evidently they are Matched near
the basement wall and enter through
some small crack, which I have not
discovered. Once / found one in the
living room.
"A snake caught in web is usually
only few inches from the floor, often
with both head and tail bound up III
web. Sometimes only one end Is so
fastened. The web is that of the small
humpbacked spider that builds on the
bottoms of chair seats, under furniture,
etc. and hangs its egg bags in every
neglected corner. / do not know
whether the snakes are drawn up from
the floor by the spider or whether they
fall into the webs. Apparently the
spiders are not able to kill them, as
when clean off the web and release
them they glide away under the leaves
in seeming good health. When the
head Is swathed in spider silk it is
rather delicate operation to clip 1t
away. No doubt they feel grateful, even
though they cannot tell me so. I never
kill a snake, and I feel no repugnance
IN handling them. They are beautiful,
and supremely graceful. My reptile
books do not enable me to identity the
one have been discussing. .
by the way one Of my hens laid
-yolked egg the other day. under
stand that that is very unusual.
Very truly yours, p. r. B."
4 y
The small snake was the ring -necked
snake, of which one specimen was found
recently in Washington apartment.
Another was discovered by resident
of Arlington County, Va, in his cellar
He poked stick at it, and found that
it did not strike, so he concluded that
1t was harmless, and put it in a glass
jar.
AS long as the jar was in the shade,
when the container was placed In the
ouAA, ~ AAAAACuAdeCAy uCS0AAC lively.
When taken in the hand, the ring
necked snake coiled into a neat ball.
This specimen was finally taken out
and released near a woodpile. It rap
Idly wriggled into the wood and disap-
peared.
This snake eats slugs, thus perform
ing useful service to the community.
The yellow ring around the neck is
very pretty. Surely many persons who
think they fear snakes would find this
one pleasing. Mature ones are about 10
inches long.
It does not seem to be included in
some books upon reptiles. The nearest
thing to it Is the milk snake, so called,
but that is much larger.
Our correspondent has given a good
account of how these pretty little fell
lows manage to get into houses, first
into the basement, where 1t probably
lives on flies and other insects, and then
upstairs, IN some cases.
A woodpile harbors many creatures,
including rats and snakes, and therefore
cannot be recommended In closely built
up suburban areas.
II woodpile is found necessary. It
IS best placed at some distance from the
house. The fact that it will be neces-
sary to walk q little farther in cold
weather does not weigh against the
freedom from intrusion from rats and
snakes.
The chances for getting a three
yolked hens egg is about one in a mil
lion, as we recall.
The two-yolked ones are quite conn
mon. We had one for breakfast the
other day, and it was very good.
We were talking to q man who has
raised chickens for many years, and he
said that he had never had 4 three
yolked one.
Eagle eggs have only one yolk, ac-
cording to the authorities Readers may
recall that In this column recently We
told the story Of the finding Of !
strange egg. which one expert said WAS
that Of the bald eagle, and another said
was merely goose. becauss II had !
double yolk.