NATURAL HISTORY. 



When a bird or a wild animal is killed, that is the end of it. If photographed, it may still live and 

 its educational and scientific value is multiplied indefinitely. 



HOW TO CATCH SNAKES. 



FRANK G. SPECK. 



In response to the inquiry of V. A. L., 

 in December Recreation: It is difficult to 

 induce a snake to enter a trap. In order 

 to understand this, one must consider that, 

 contrary to the laws governing most other 

 animals, a regular or daily supply of nour- 

 ishment is in no wise requisite to the snake. 

 He takes his food at random, consequently 

 a trap containing food might remain un- 

 noticed indefinitely by the intended victim. 

 Unlikely as this may seem, it can be readily 

 understood by anyone acquainted with the 

 snake's desultory nature. 



A plan, however, that has sometimes suc- 

 ceeded is to fasten a frog or a mouse by 

 the leg to a stake in a snake-frequented 

 locality, allowing the creature room to 

 move about freely. If a hungry snake 

 approach, he is likely to devour the bait, 

 thereby securing himself to the stake by 

 the same ties that held the tempter. The 

 sort of bait used in each case must be in 

 accordance with the snake's customary 

 diet; toads, frogs, mice or birds for the 

 Cratalus and his relatives. In addition, 

 •the copperhead is fond of the wood frog, 

 Rana sylvatica. The trapper, however, 

 must attend his traps often, for in a short 

 time the process of digestion will dissolve 

 the swallowed bait and the cord will be re- 

 leased ; likewise the snake. 



Another method, even less certain than 

 the former, is to bury jugs, leaving their 

 mouths level with the ground, in the prox- 

 imity of a snake den, preferably near a 

 hole. In this case there is the probability 

 of some ophidian rambler entering in search 

 of peace and quiet. When once within he 

 will be obliged to remain on account of 

 the smooth interior of the quasi-snake- 

 hole. 



As V. A. L. inquires merely about traps 

 for catching reptiles he is presumably 

 aware of the forked stick apparatus, which 

 is most satisfactory and efficacious in use. 



"Is there any way to remove the poison 

 glands of a rattlesnake?" Yes. By the 

 careful use of a lancet the entire system of 

 fangs, including the embryonic stages, may 

 be so thoroughly removed that they will 

 never grow again. From that time forth 

 the snake necessarily starves, for, deprived 

 of his natural method of taking food, he 

 will adopt no other. The process of stuf- 

 fing, however, can often be successfully 

 practiced ; and the number of alleged snake 

 charmers who employ this artificial means 

 of administering nourishment attests its 

 adequacy. The removal of the fangs alone 



results in their speedy replacement by others 

 forming from embryos situated immediate- 

 ly posterior to the fang proper. It is im- 

 portant, when venomous snakes have thus 

 been operated on, to wash their mouths 

 frequently, as tlie secretion of virus by the 

 entire system and its concentration in the 



> 



f 



mouth is by no means deterred by the ex- 

 traction of the glands. Consequently the 

 bite of a fangless rattler is dangerous 

 merely from what venom has become 

 mingled with the other juices resident in 

 the mouth. It is also noteworthy that in 

 these snakes the tendency- to strike is much 

 lessened. They often seem to realize their 

 condition, accepting their fate with pain- 

 ful resignation. 



As regards the scientific antidote for the 

 Crotalus bite, I can do no better than refer 

 V. A. L. to the investigations of the late 

 Dr. Stejneger, who, in his admirable paper 

 on the venomous snakes of North America, 

 says : 



"Mitchell and Reichert had confirmed the 

 destructive actiann of certjain chemicals, 

 used as injections, on the venom, notably 

 permanganate of potassium, ferric chloride, 

 iodine and bromine. To these Kaufmann 

 adds chromic acid, which he highly recom- 

 mends as a remedy for local lesions." 



The first of these, permanganate of potas- 

 sium, is to-day the most favored among 

 those who are accustomed to handle venom- 

 ous reptiles. There are, too, * countless 

 rough and ready cures advised, some of 

 which are helpful, some harmless and others 

 decidedly nocent. Among the latter is 

 ammonia, which destroys the veins and 

 increases the heart action, thus working in 

 direct conformity with the venom. 



A LONE FISHERMAN. 



W. O. DOOLITTLE. 



The past winter was severe in the village 



of P — . There was a scarcity of bird 



life. Nearly all the feathered inhabitants 

 had deserted the place for a warmer coun- 



i39 



