Evening star., 1947-08-05
This and That
By Charles E. TrdceaDell.

MASSACHUSETTS AVE.
Dear Sir:
I'VE read This and That daily, in fact, we
date back to the days when it appeared in the
upper right-hand section of the editorial page,
but like the rest of the readers, we did in time
get used to our new location.
Need add that we do enjoy your writings
Templeton Jones, included? Poor old Temp,
what ride you do give him. but he seems to
be able to take it and come back for more.
"Well now we get down to the usual Ask
Tracewell, he is bound to know
1--WE (N1r and Mrs) have spent some five
years in Florida and we plan that in due
course of time we hope to again take up our
abode there.
when we lived there before we saw several
hlacksnakes, but we never molested them, be-
cause we had often heard that they were
reputed to kill the deadly rattler.
"The question is:
"Are blacksnakes killers Of rattlers, and are
blacksnakes harmless as far as people are con-
cerned; further, is there any truth in the Oft
repeated statement that these snakes can be
made pets of?
Yours very truly, j. H. McV."
II
Blacksnakes make excellent pets-if you
like snakes.
Probably SO per cent Of the population still
do not care for them, so this snake cannot be
said to be very popular household inmate.
But some persons down South keep them for
ratters, and say no rats or mice can exist
around their premises with these faithful
exterminators on duty.
If one wants to make a pet out Of this
harmless creature, specimen is best taken
young, when it is about 18 inches long.
The young ones are pale gray above with
brown splotches and black spots on the Sides
1t will grow in time to feet in length at
which size even the snake enthusiast may decide
to 60 back to mouse and rat traps
Even at the greatest length-the female is
slightly larger-the blacksnake or racer, as it
is often called. is perfectly harmless.
1t is not aggressive, and will not fight any
thing its size unless cornered
1t will however seize and slay rattlesnakes
In some sections of the country regular battles
between the two are put on for amusement.
The blacksnake mostly wins by wrapping
its superior length around the rattler and
strangling it.
Such a combat is described in the book on
the Swanee River, in the Rivers of America"
series.
The blacksnake is vigorous, and can both
climb and swim.
1t is nothing for one of these capable crea-
lures to climb 100-foot tree, where, alas, 1t
takes birds and their eggs and young. Not
many at that height, it is true, but far too
many down lower in the tree.
The blacksnake is good swimmer It thinks
nothing at all of crossing a river, hence q
whole territory is at Its command.
1t eats squirrels and other rodents, and Is
regarded as one of the best of all rat killers
Fifteen or 20 eggs are laid in q hollow,
either in the ground or in dead tree stump.
The mother snakes stand guard, and keep
watch over the babies until they are about
8 feet long.
At this time (and at this time only she
might attack human being, but ordinarily
there is nothing to fear except fear, when one
encounters a blacksnake.
In winter blacksnakes gather in groups and
huddle in tangle in a hollow tree or some
times In dens In the earth.
The first real warmth of spring untangles
them and sends them forth on their constant
forays against the rodent tribes.
II snake can be likable-and let us never
forget that some people say they can-the
blacksnake is 1t.
A real American. he, wheeling his way over
hills plains, through fields of grain, swimming
mighty rivers, climbing tall timbers.