Evening star., 1950-01-20
This and That
By Charles E. TraceweH
BETHESDA.

Dear Sir
What shall we do about snakes?
There are many Of them around our
place, and though they are not very big, they
frighten me. @s
These snakes are blackish, and whip away
when I step on them.
They are in no danger, but they don't
know it, and away they co. in one direction,
with me going in the other
II suppose it is childish or something to be
afraid of snakes.
What should I do about them?
Very truly yours, A. L. D."
X X
The best thing to do with snakes is to let
them alone
There are not many varieties seen any,
more in our built-up suburban communities
except the blacksnakes and common water
snakes
The latter occasionally show up in fish
pools.
The blacksnakes like to sun themselves
especially the small ones.
Many persons who see them on sidewalks
disregard them. thinking they are just rather
large fishing worms.
Sometimes, to their surprise, the worms"
suddenly show an amazing activity for
worms. but not for snakes.
X * X
Snakes have an ancient lineage
They have been the objects of worship,
even, in the history of mankind.
They figure in many legends, occupy an
honored place in folklore.
In the Bible, the snake is famous char
acter.
The legends built up about them include
many tall tales" still believed In by many
persons. who are willing to swear to their
truth.
1r1,rs x,,o hav. A.. sa.~.~ ~,.v L.. 4,
believed to take It's tail in its mouth and 90
rolling down the road
There Is the milk snake" that is supposed
to milk the cows
Snakes are believed to hypnotic their
prey. Scientists scoff at the very idea. They
say snakes do stare, owing to their lidless
eyes, but do not hypnotize. Yet no belief is
harder to kill. Scientists say it is just an
other of the stories told about snakes.
Snakes vary from very small and very
harmless to very large and very harmful
The little garden snakes do no harm, even
the wicked-looking, mature water snake is
harmless, but these manage to frighten about
as many people as a 25-foot python would.
X Xxx
It is said that of the 146 species in the
United States. less than 20 are poisonous,
but try to tell that to the people who dislike
b them-and this includes most everybody.
People kill snakes on sight, without ever
stopping to think that most of them eat
mice. and, so, do mankind good turn.
See snake, seize a club and beat it to
death. That has been their fate over the
centuries, and probably it always will be-
The bull snake is big one, and perhaps
no one is to be blamed for fearing it. This
one, in addition to mice, also eats rabbits
and squirrels, with birds eggs thrown in.
The snake digestion enables it to manage
the shells as well as the rest of the eggs 1t
is said that bull snake will calm down,
after it Kisses at you, and let itself be picked
up. Perhaps few persons will be willing to
go that far with a bull snake, no matter how
gentle and docile it is.
The very word reptile comes from Latin
verb meaning to crawl Hence we should not
look down upon them for doing what nature
makes them do This is. of course, an advice
of perfection. Most persons hate snakes. It
is in their blood to do so. Psychologists to-
day have their dismal theories to account
for this, none of them to mankinds credit
Perhaps it is best to feel that there is, indeed
a perpetual warfare between man and the
snake, and to let it go at that. It must be
remembered that today reptiles are on the
downgrade. There was time when they
owned the sea and the land, and 1t is only
fortunate fuke that tenabled man to sur
| viye. Let us recall the former glory of the
reptiles, masters of the earth, and try not
to bs too hard on their descendants.