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54 SCIENCE. Vor. IIL, No. 56. 
i" 
but it is the veriest make-believe; and it is 
very questionable if there is a snake among 
them all which could harm the smallest child, 
even if disposed to do so. This is strangely 
at variance with the current newspaper stories, 
I know; but those, like the anecdotes related 
by Kalm, are simply not true. 
Of our common snakes, the most formidable 
in appearance is the black snake (Bascanion 
constrictor), and of this species scores of most 
wonderful stories have been told; yet the 
Species is really very cowardly, and not dis- 
posed to resent interference at any time. It 
is, however, probably the most active, as it is 
the largest, of our serpents, and therefore is 
one well calculated to exhibit evidences of the 
possession of intelligence, and the best to 
study in regard to this subject. What, then, 
do we learn, when we seek out these black 
snakes in their chosen haunts? ‘To find them, 
one must proceed cautiously ; for they are pos- 
sessed of a quick sense of hearing, and are 
on the alert the moment any suspicious noises 
are heard. Is it for this reason that they are 
considered quite rare in many places where 
they really are abundant? They have appar- 
ently learned wisdom by experience, and, know- 
ing that if discovered they will be pursued, 
conceal themselves quickly if they suspect 
danger. Ican in no other way satisfactorily 
describe such actions of these snakes as I have 
often witnessed; and the use of the phrase 
‘learning wisdom,’ and of the word ‘ suspect,’ 
implies necessarily the possession, on the part 
of the snakes, of a considerable degree of in- 
telligence. How far the black snake is cun- 
ning, I have not been able to determine; but 
a chance remark in Heckewelder’s ‘ Indian 
nations ’ would seem to indicate that the In- 
dians had long been convinced that it was a 
cunning serpent, and I am disposed to accept 
their testimony in such matters as essentially 
correct. Heckewelder says the Indians gave 
to Gen. Wayne the name of ‘ Black Snake,’ 
‘* because they say he had all the cunning of 
this animal, who is superior to all other snakes 
in the manner of procuring his food. He hides 
himself in the grass, with his head, only, above 
it, watching all around to see where the birds 
are building their nests, that he may know 
where to find the young ones when they are 
hatched.’’ 
Assuming this to be true, we have here an 
instance, not only of cunning, but of a very 
excellent memory. ‘This seems incredible; 
but Mr. Romanes, in his volume on animal 
intelligence, remarks that snakes ‘‘ are well 
able to distinguish persons, and that they re- 
member their friends for a period of at least 
six weeks.’’ If, therefore, a tamed snake can 
remember a person for six weeks, there is 
nothing very remarkable in its retaining the 
localities of birds’ nests for a shorter period ; 
for, between the building of the nest and hatch- 
ing of the eggs, less than half that time elapses. 
The elaborate treatises on the power of black 
snakes to charm birds and squirrels may be 
passed by in this connection. That these 
snakes frighten little birds out of their wits by 
staring at them is occasionally true; but that 
the snake intentionally ‘ charms’ its prey, as 
has been so elaborately and pathetically de- 
scribed, is sheer nonsense. Still, considering 
the black snake in a practical way, and seeing 
him under ordinary, not extraordinary, circum- 
stances, it must be admitted that he possesses 
a considerable degree of intelligence. Indeed, 
the fact that this snake has, notwithstanding 
incessant persecution, been able to hold its 
own in the most thickly settled neighborhoods, 
is of itself a conclusive argument that it pos- 
sesses decided intellectual power. It has at 
least sufficient wit to elude a host of enemies. 
A. far more abundant species, and one that is 
even better known and more dreaded than the 
black snake, is the harmless and very resent- 
ful hog-nosed snake (Heterodon platyrhinos). 
It has a variety of common names, — such as 
‘adder,’ ‘ viper,’ and ‘ flat-head,’ —of which 
the last alone is at all appropriate. It is true 
that it flattens its head, hisses loudly, springs 
menacingly, and snaps fiercely ; but it is harm- 
less nevertheless. 
As an object of study, it presents much that 
is of peculiar interest. Without fangs, or even 
teeth of sufficient length to produce a wound 
beyond a mere pin-prick, it presents the out- 
ward appearance, and has the pose and move- 
ment, of the deadly rattlesnake. Wholly unable 
to inflict the slightest injury, it has always 
puzzled me to understand why it should not, 
like all our other snakes, seek safety in flight. 
May we hold that it realizes the full meaning 
of the peculiar powers of the venomous ser- 
pent it mimics so admirably, and trusts to its 
being mistaken for a rattlesnake? Indeed, this 
mimicry has been perfect in some instances 
that I have witnessed ; inasmuch as the tail of 
the snake was rapidly vibrated against dead 
leaves, and so produced a sound that was 
strikingly similar to that of the rattlesnake. 
This similarity was, of course, accidental, as 
it was by mere chance that dry leaves were 
lying about; but, at various other times, I 
have noticed that the tail was held in the same 
position, and vibrated in precisely the same 
