Evening star., 1944-06-01
This and That
By Charles e. Tracevell

"cHEsTERBRooK WOODS, va.
Dear Sir:
THE other day my sister and I en-
countered very large and a very
unconcerned and unafraid snake in our
yard. N
i aHe was all of five feet and maybe
more, when stretched to full length.
Neither of us knows much about reptiles
but we think he might be black
snake. 1a4 &E#
His back was grayisi1 black, with
very indistinct markings of lighter
gray along the sides, and his UNDER
meath parts were a light yellow.
The thing that struck me as being
unusual was the very small head for
such a large body.
Neither of us attempted to kill him,
my sister being afraid she could not
make clean job of It, and I 'just
being afraid
Although I detest the sight of a
snake, do think they are all unjhstly
treated due to the bad reputation Of
few, so would not attempt to kill
one. unless 1T would be the snake
or me-.
Nov would like to know two or
three things. Are there such things
as tree snakes, or do all snakes climb
trees?
This one very deliberately climbed a
nearby maple tree after we had thrown
several feeble sticks and stones at him.
From the maple he went to a beech
tree and from there down to weigela
bush and there left him as had
other things to do
Il think he (or she) was looking for
bird eggs.
Another thing I am wondering about
is whether he was a transient in our
yard or whether our yard and its envi-
rons are his natural habitat
AS we have many trees, have the
uncomfortable feeling that he might
drop down and wrap around my neck.
I read story once about a black
snake doing that. While I am not
afraid of his bite, certainly have no
desire for him as a necklace
Very truly yours, z. G. r."
The blacksnake is a wonderful climb
er and swimmer.
1t is about feet long, of an almost
uniform leaden color, with some white
on its throat
Birds, their eggs, mice, moles and the
larger insects form most of it's food
At times it kills some smaller snakes.
1t Is harmless to man, and even when
pestered infaicts only a small bite.
One should be sure of ones snakes,
just as one should be sure of ones
mushrooms
II the wrong snake is tolerated, it may
turn out to belong to one of the four
poisonous groups
If the wrong mushroom" is picked, 1t
may be found to have been a poisonous
toadstool.
All in all, perhaps the safest thing for
the amateur to do is not to hunt for
mushrooms, and to kill all snakes en-
countered
This is an old wisdom, and while it
has aspects Of cruelty 1t is no doubt the
safest way.
Poisonous snakes are the coral snake,
found in the South; the Southern cot
tonmouth moccasin and it's Northern
relative, the copperhead, and the rattle
snake.
The coral snake has broad alternat-
ing rings of red and black divided by
narrow rings of yellow
The others have fiat triangular heads,
thin necks and thick bodies.
The rattle, of course, is the distin-
gushing mark of a rattlesnake.
The copperhead shows reddish brown
markings like dumbbells across the
hazel-brown head.
The moccasln has wide black cross
bands across its olive body.
1t is said that rs per cent of snake
bites are on leg or ankle and % per cent
on the arm or hand.
Hence it is good practice to wear
high-topped shoes in snake infested
country and to refrain from placing the
hand on or close to the ground without
looking first.
Victims of snake bite should be kept
quiet, to slow the circulation. 1t will
come as shock to some people to be
told that whisky is not regarded by
| experts as cure" for snake bit and
has no value as stimulant in such
cases.