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 SKIN A RATTLESNAKE. 



ELESA M 4 GREMKE. 



The very word rattlesnake fills the aver- 

 age person with horror, especially people 

 who live in cities and seldom, if ever, come 

 in close contact with the reptile. Yet one 

 who has made its acquaintance feels no 

 sense of creepiness at the sight of a beauti- 

 ful diamond marked rattler that promises 

 a rare trophy. 



However, great care should be taken 

 when traveling through country where the 

 rattlesnake abounds. He is likely to be 

 found almost anywhere among logs, rocks, 

 near trails or running streams; and often 

 in bed clothing carelessly left by the camp- 

 er on the ground during the day. In high- 

 er altitudes, where the temperature is cool- 

 er, the reptile does not travel after sun- 

 down ; he coils wherever night overtakes 

 him. Both huntsman and tourist should be 

 constantly on the alert, for the rattler does 

 not always give warning when disturbed. 



My brother and I, while traveling last 

 summer in the high Sierras, had been rid- 

 ing horseback several hours. Being weary, 

 we dismounted and' walked for a change. 

 Diverted by the beautiful scenery, we 

 strolled carelessly along. Finally I tripped 

 over a little snag in the trail, but passed 

 on a few yards beyond. The thought oc- 

 curred to me that possibly some of our 

 pack animals, coming on in the rear, might 

 stumble over the snag. I retraced my steps 

 and began to tug at it. Suddenly I heard 

 a loud, fierce rattle close behind me and 

 sprang forward. On a bank to the right 

 of the trail lay a large rattler, coiled and 

 ready to strike. 



Just then the guide rode up, and, secur- 

 ing a heavy stick, attacked the snake. At 

 the first blow the reptile came down the 

 bank into the trail, fighting furiously. He 

 bit himself finally, and after a few more 

 blows the fight ended. He was 4 feet long, 

 6 inches in circumference, and we counted 

 13 rattles. To our regret we had to leave 

 him because his skin was spoiled in the 

 battle. 



There are various ways of dispatching a 

 rattler. One who would save the skin 

 should be careful to stun or kill the reptile 

 at the first blow. A rattlesnake will al- 

 ways bite himself if wounded, after which 

 the skin is dangerous to handle. If he re- 

 mains coiled, with head erect in a fighting 

 position, it will be difficult to strike him 

 without bruising the skin of the body. If 

 let alone he will uncoil and crawl awav. 



The propelling movement being sluggish, 

 renders it easy to deal the blow on the 

 head, stunning the snake instantly. It is 

 then safe to use a forked stick to hold the 

 head down firmly while cutting it off below 

 the poison sack, which is located under the 

 jaw. 



To skin a rattlesnake, make a cut about 

 an inch long down the neck; turn the skin 

 back and fasten a stout string to the fleshy 

 part. Let some one hold it while you take 

 the squirming snake with one hand and 

 with the other rip down the center of the 

 belly. Then pull down the loosened part 

 at the neck and it will readily yield till 

 you reach the small end of the tail. That 

 will have to be carefully separated with the 

 knife. Now the skin is ready for the salt 

 and alum. Sprinkle it thoroughly on the 

 inside and, if you are traveling and unable 

 to stretch it at once, roll it in a moist cloth 

 and keep in a cool place. 



I kept a skin 3 days in a hot climate be- 

 fore I was able to stretch it, and it was still 

 in good condition. 



Use 6-ounce tacks and tack an inch apart, 

 beginning at the neck and working down 

 on either side. A better result can be ob- 

 tained by tacking it on a vertical board in- 

 stead of in a horizontal position. After the 

 skin has thoroughly dried, remove tacks 

 and roll it around, or place in a cylindrical 

 can, after" which it can be packed with 

 safety. 



A SCOURGE OF BLACK FLIES. 



I was much interested in "The Architec- 

 ture of a Beaver Dam," by Mr. Frank R. 

 Grover, on page 419 of December Recrea- 

 tion. 



For several years I have been spending 

 part of my summer vacations in Les Chen- 

 eauxs and that vicinity. Last August my 

 friend "Shag" and I were on Taylor creek. 

 Shag and the guide, a native, fished down- 

 stream from a point where a lumber road 

 crossed the creek. The guide told me I 

 should fish upstream to the beaver dam, 

 about 2 miles. I found the ruins of the old 

 dam and the place where new work was 

 going on. In the pool behind the work of 

 sticks, stones and mud I caught a number 

 of good trout. My orders were to find the 

 big ones, above the -beaver meadow, but I 

 did not go far beyond the old dam. It is 

 of the cause which halted me that I wish 

 to have a word with Mr. Grover, who may 

 have been there about the same time. 



About 3 o'clock in the afternoon, after 

 probably 4 hours' fishing, Shag, the guide 



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