244 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



lOcT. 21, 1886. 



AN EXCEPTIONAL SNAKE. 



IN describing an abnormal, or to speak more con-ectly, 

 an unlooked-for habit of consti-icting prey in certain 

 small-sized snakes (see Foeest ajjd Stre^vm of Oct. 22 

 last), allusion was made to tli e Lacertine snake {Ccelopeltis 

 lacertina), which had recently been the subject of scien- 

 tific investigation. One result of these is that a posterior 

 tooth longer than the rest is found to be connected with 

 a poison gland, and that tliis snake, hitherto supposed to 

 be harmless, can actually inflict a deadly wound with 

 this back tooth. Here is another instance of the strange 

 contradictions which we find to exist throughout the 

 ophidian famihes, and which liave induced me on more 

 than one occasion already to affii-m that where snakes are 

 concerned excei)tions to rules are so abundant as almost 

 to exceed the rules themselves. For example, we should 

 hardly have expected to find constricting habits in a bur- 

 rowing snake such as the Indian worm snake {Gongylophis) 

 described in my last paper; still less so in a venomous 

 snake whose poison tooth is supposed to compensate for 

 non-constricting powers; nor should we exi^ect to find a 

 noxious fang at the back of the mouth, when the idea 

 that the venom tooth is in front has so long pi'evaUed. 



Thus, in the rapid advance of science do the discoveries 

 of to-day upiset the teachings of yesterday. A man whose 

 arduous labors and research have constituted him the 

 authority of his time may find himself superseded by his 

 juniors jDerhaps even to-morrow. Yet he enjoys the sat- 

 isfaction of knowing that the results of his ow\\ researches 

 have been the starting point for the yoimger student, 

 stepping stones to enable him in Ms tiun to add another 

 landmark in that especial science. 



Eegarding this Lacertine snake, which is now known 

 to be both a constrictor and venomous, I could almost 

 declare it has changed its natm'e before one's eyes. Its 

 name would imply some lizard affinities, though I am 

 unable to say what. In the summer of 1874 several of 

 these snakes were in the London Zoological Gardens, 

 occupying a cage with a few of other harmless kinds. I 

 watched them on several occasions while feeding and 

 recorded my observations as follows: "The Lacertines, on 

 the alert for food, are always first to seize the sparrows 

 thrown in to them, swallowing one quickly and then seiz- 

 ing a second, often as not in the mouth of a companion. 

 They struggle together until the one having the weakest 

 hold of the bud is obliged to relinquish it. One of them, 

 after dispatching its own sparrow, seized the head of a 

 snake which had a half -swallowed bird in its mouth and 

 held it in such a fii-m grip that the keeper was summoned 

 to the rescue, when he shook off and dragged the aggres- 

 sor away, boxing its ears, figuratively, for its bad 

 behavior. It retired m a sulky mood for a time, then 

 thought better of it, and, with recovered composure, 

 caught another little bud and and ate it." 



"With regard to the several modes of seizing their prey, 

 and perhaps somewhat mixed by then- specific name, I 

 again affirmed in some published papers on the Ojjhidia 

 (1876): "The Lacertines, glass snakes, and some others 

 approaching the saurian characters swallow their prey 

 ahve, snapping it downi rapidly in lizard-hke fashion." 

 It is true that I might therefore have watched these Lacer- 

 tines with preconceived ideas, and on the lookout for 

 lizard habits, yet I can hardly think that coUing a bu-d or 

 a mouse would have escaped my notice had it occurred. 

 My custom was to make notes at the time of what I saw, 

 and with a view to the publication of my larger work, 

 "Cm-iosities and "Wonders of Serpent Life," and I spent a 

 gi'eat deal of time in careful observations at the Eeptilium 

 on feeding days. Not untill880-81 do I remember observ- 

 ing the constriction of prey in any other snakes than the 

 larger and recognized constrictors, and was at that time 

 much surprised to witness this management^ — if not actual 

 killing of prey in certain small sjiecies, causing me to 

 state in my work on "Snakes," p. 570: "Some Heterodons 

 (they were dJOrbigiiiis), and even the Lacertines often 

 assist themselves with coils in overcoming their prey, 

 though nat themselves constrictors; but the venomous 

 snakes have not the slightest notion of aiding themselves 

 in this way, as if confident that in time their venom vv-ould 

 do its work." The latter was in allusion to the vipers 

 and the elapidce, but now we discover that a snake 

 hitherto sui^posed to be allied to the most harmless and 

 helpless families, does actually constrict its prey with an 

 intent to kill, while in possession of a venomous tooth as 

 well. 



Lately I have again, vidth renewed interest and atten- 

 tion, watched the feeding. Last summer when the Lacer- 

 tine snake was found to be furnished with a grooved fa.ng 

 and a poison gland, an individual then in otir collection 

 was transferred from its haitnless associates to a cage 

 containing two coi^perheads and a cape adder. Some 

 young rats were put mto the cage, one of which was 

 quickly caught and constricted by the Lacertine, who held 

 it coiled in a spiral, longitudinal twist for at least a 

 quarter of an hom- by the clock. Meanwhile, the anterior 

 half of its body being disengaged, it reconnoitred for 

 further prey, and presently possessed itself of a mouse, 

 which had " been struck and killed by the cape adder, 

 catching it by a hindleg and working it round till it got 

 the head into its mouth. "While swallowing it the cape 

 adder came to secure his lawful supper, saw it fast disap- 

 pearing and seemed inclmed to remonstrate; but while 

 investigating proceedings, the coils of the Lacertine grad- 

 ually relaxed from the rat still retained, and which was 

 now quietly apx^ropriated by the cape adder who, with- 

 out opposition (the Lacertine constrictor was, indeed, hors 

 de combat, ^vit\\ his jaws hard at work akeady), dragged 

 it away and proceeded to swallow it. Thus the Lacertine 

 had a mouse flavored with a condiment of adder venom, 

 and the adder made its suj)per on a constTicted rat de- 

 prived of the ]3ei)tic virtues which its own venom should 

 have imparted. Later in the summer I saw the same 

 Lacertine snake catch a mouse, and without loosening 

 its hold with the jaws, partially constrict and begin to 

 swallow it before it was dead; the following week it 

 caught and constricted one which it held in its coils for 

 fom- minutes, but not so tightly as to kill it before swal- 

 lowing it. 



Only sm-prises, therefore, have awaited my observa- 

 tions. " So far as I have seen no use is made by Ccelopeltis 

 of its venom fang while feeding. Nor did it invariably 

 constrict when I happened to watch it. That once only 

 did I see the prey actually killed by prolonged constric- 

 tion, and often the coils are so slack that an attempt to 

 kill would not occur to the observer. As a most interest- 

 ing combination of a venomous-constricting snake, the 



next Coslopeltis lacertina which arrives at the Reptilium 

 will be very closely watched, and my observations "will 

 be duly recorded. From the evolutionist's point of view 

 one might suppose that this highh^ endowed snake has 

 not been a constiictor long enough "to be an expert at its 

 work, and that the fang at the back of the mouth is a 

 useful adjunct ia this incompetency. The Xenodons and 

 Heterodons, together with a number of other snakes, 

 possess a fang-like posterior tooth, mobile in a few cases; 

 but I believe I am safe in affirming that they have no 

 connection -with a poison gland— that is, at present. 



To some Italian ophiologists we are, I think, indebted 

 for this discovery of a new member to the families of 

 poisonous snakes! ]\Ir. G. A. Boulenger, of the Heri^eto- 

 logical Department of the British Museum, informs me 

 that the experiments of M. H. Peracca and C. Dirigibus 

 have proved Ccelopeltis lacertina to be poisonous, "al- 

 though the effects of its bite appear to be fatal only to 

 small animals." 



The maxillary (a specimen is before me) is half an inch 

 long and sustains 12 small and not very regular simple 

 teeth, which are separated from the longer gi-ooved tooth. 

 The longer and stronger back teeth of some of the harm- 

 less snakes are supposed to assist the reptile in retaining 

 hve prey which otherwise might escape; but Ccelopeltis, 

 furnished not only with a venom gland but with con- 

 stricting abilities, becomes an object of exceedtagly inter- 

 esting speculation. 



In conclusion I may add that my diligent researches 

 fail to afford good reason for its specific name lacertina. 

 Its generic name is from a Greek word signifying caims, 

 a hollow; in French creuse or excave; and peltis, French 

 bouclier, a shield; from the hollow plates or shields of the 

 head, especially those in front of the eyes. In adults the 

 scales on the back are also concave. "Wagler, in 1824-26, 

 called this snake Natrix lacertina, but afterward, on ac- 

 count of the form of the head shields, jireferred the name 

 Ccelopeltis lacertina. As the specific name hac been re- 

 tained by many subsequent herpetologists there shoiild be 

 reason for it, Dumeril, Gray, Giinther, and others retain 

 the specific. Also Schlegel, who assures us from compe- 

 tent authority that it feeds entirely on the green lizards 

 which belong to the same habitats. Both are found 

 tlu-oughout Central and Southern Em-ope, Palestine, Asia 

 Minor and North Africa, including, perhaps, Egypt. 

 Schlegel affirms that he has dissected a gt-eat many indi- 

 viduals and found that only the gi-een lizards had been 

 taken as food, but this fact insufficiently accounts for its 

 specific name lacertine, which ought, if so, to have 

 pihagus in its composition. There is only the one species 

 of Ccelopeltis at present. I may again add, suice what 

 with "developments," discoveries, and multitudinous 

 classifiers persistency of nomenclatm-e seems hopeless. 

 0. lacertina is not a favorite in the menageries, bearing 

 the chai-acter of being spiteful, obstreperous, and gener- 

 ally unamiable, also short-lived in captivity; all of which 

 inconvenient traits may be accounted for, if in other 

 menageries also, it is fed on rats, mice, birds, and what 

 not, which may impair its digestion, and as a consequence 

 its temper. Green lizards {Lacerta iriridis) in London 

 are too costly, and truth to tell, Coilopeltis takes very 

 readily to furred and feathered suppers, seizing the 

 creatm-es as if nothing came amiss to him. One should 

 add that this snake is closely allied to the Psammophidce 

 and is P.'ia m mophis lacertina of Schlegel and some other 

 ophiologists. Catherine C. Hopley. 



RATTLES AND FANGS. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



I have just read in your last issue a niunber of observa- 

 tions on rattlesnakes and theu fangs. I have been inter- 

 ested to learn whether venomous snakes shed then- frangs 

 annuaUy. I dissected the head of a rattlesnake some 

 years ago and found several pairs of immature fangs 

 alongside of the matured ones. This summer I examined 

 the head of a cotton-mouth moccasin and found five pairs 

 of soft, immature fangs, of a white color, in a bunch, 

 resting in the cartilaguious envelope which sm-rounds 

 the full-grown fangs. 



A friend of mine killed a rattlesnake some 6ft. long 

 a few days ago which had very recently shed its skin. 

 The slough was in close proximity to the snake when 

 killed. This snake had no fangs at aU in the usual posi- 

 tion. Another gentleman informed me that he had 

 recently killed a cotton-mouth which had no fangs. This 

 is just the season for the shedding of skins, and these 

 facts seem to indicate, without doubt, that venomous 

 snakes do shed their fangs annually. 



In my swamp explorations this summer I encountered 

 many cotton-mouth moccasins, none more than 34ft. or 

 4ft. long. They are very thick in proportion to leng-th, 

 have plenty of vims and long fangs; they are generally 

 disposed to get away, when they can do so readily, but 

 when cornered are very vicious. Their colors are, rusty 

 black on the back, mottled black underneath, and wliite 

 in the interior of mouth and throat. They frequent low, 

 marshy lands in the Mississippi bottoms. Coahoma. 



Memphis, Tenn. 



Live Ruffed Grouse.— jEJd^or Forest and Stream: As 

 you are aware, for the past two years I have been carry- 

 ing on some experiments with ruffed grouse to test the 

 possibility of their domestication. "What has been the 

 result of these experiments I hope to give your readers at 

 no distant day, since a very full record has been kept 

 covering the entire time. But the object of this note is 

 to ask the readers of the Forest and Stream who are 

 fortunate enough to secure any live grouse this fall to aid 

 me in these investigations by sending me such birds. I 

 can assm-e them that the captives ^vill receive the bes-t of 

 care and any such favors will be most gratefully appreci- 

 ated.— Jay Bebe (Lox Box 110, Toledo, O.). 



Curiously Marked Squirrel.— Halstead, Pa., Ocf. 6. 

 —A short time ago a farmer brought into town a squirrel 

 which was killed by his son near here. It was about the 

 size of an ordinary gray squiiTel, but was of a pmre white 

 color, except light streaks of red down sides and back and 

 light' spots of red on fore shoulders and head. It was 

 placed on exhibition in a drug store and created consid- 

 erable conjectm-e as to what breed, if any, it belonged. 

 I consider it a cross of red and gi-ay squuTcl. Perhaps 

 some of your readers can enhghten me on the subject, as 

 I have considerable cmiosity in regard to it.— F. E. S. 



Food for the Caged Woodpecker.— Hartford.— If 

 "Sportsman" will feed his pileated woodpecker on mock- 

 ing bu-d food I think he will have no ti-ouble with him. 

 This food is prepared for insect-eating V>irds. Meal worms 

 would be good, and if "Sijortsniaii" will visit any grist 

 mill and turn over boxes and barrels he will find thousands 

 of meal worms, as they can be found around old baras 

 under the floors (double floors are better). Don't feed too 

 high, say about six or eight per day would be enough.— 



Crows IN the "Water.— Providence, R. I., Oct. 1.5.— As I 

 was riding in the country a few days ago, admu-ing the 

 beautiful changing foliage of the maple trees, and keep- 

 ing my eyes open for all odd-looking autumn grasses and 

 bright berries, to be used in decorating the rooms this 

 winter, I came to a small pond, and on looking over the 

 other side I saw, as I thought, some black ducks, but on 

 approaching nearer, discovered them to be crows. They 

 would wade into the water as far out as they could touch 

 the bottom, and seemed to be picking something up from 

 the bottom. Were they catching small fish? I never saw 

 crows in the water before and tliought I would write and 

 see if any of your readers had. — Basil. 



kme md 0mi 



Address all communicatiovs to the Foreat and Stream Pub. Co. 



NEWFOUNDLAND CARIBOU HUNTING. 



THE morning opened with promise of a genuine sijring 

 day. The ti-ees dripped, for some snow had fallen 

 in the night, and a couple of robins whistled joyously 

 from the top of a tall larch. ' 'These fellows are not aromid 

 till the winter is broken up," the traveler assured me; 

 •'and we may expect the deer to-day." But the deer did 

 not come that day. Toward sundown I observed with my 

 glass a herd of four or five grazing in a brovvsy marsh 

 alK)ut a mile distant, but it was plain that they were not 

 on the march. Through the winter scattered herds would 

 be found in this region, for it was not as severe as other 

 parts, the thermometer seldom falling more than 8' below 

 zero, browse and lichen being likewise obtainable in the 

 marshes. 



It was then resolved that one of three com-ses lay open 

 for us. To return to the trader's house till the march had 

 commenced; to penetrate further into Avalon and seek 

 the deer m theu- resorts, or wait their arrival on the tilt. 

 The latter was the most desirable course, but om- "prog" 

 was getting scarce, that is to say the bread portion of our 

 larder, and our tea and sugar. Starv^ation was not to be 

 feared, for we had beef, a tilt full of game, but game, 

 game, game, three times a day soon wears out its wel- 

 come. It was finally resolved that if no "sign" appeared 

 on the following day that one of the party should return 

 to the trader's for flour, tea and sugar. No sign did 

 appear and the officer of our commissariat set out on the 

 second day afterward for a supply of the needed stores. 



We saw another herd of five deer, probably they were 

 the same as those ah-eady mentioned, on the day that our 

 purveyor left us. They were distant from the lead and 

 feeding in a marsh on the edge of a swollen stream. They 

 were difficult of approach and it took nearly three hours 

 to stalk them. Sometimes aided by the shelter of bushes, 

 hummocks or rocks, we could walk or run, but the greater 

 part of the distance we had to crawl. Fancy crawling 

 on a marsh made sodden with melting snow. I was wet 

 to the skin with this cliiUy snow water and I thanked the 

 brain that fust devised schnapps. Then it was salutary 

 to take a glass, for even the chilly sirring water can do Utile 

 harm on the outside with spirits within. At last the firing 

 place was reached and a wave of the trader's liandtold us 

 to make ourselves ready. We got quietly into the bushes 

 and could see the herd without being seen by them. 

 There they were with their tender, timid, luminous eyes 

 browsing about all oblivious of the deadly muzzles point- 

 ing toward them. One, a large, plump doe, was not 

 twenty paces distant from where we lay, but the others 

 were scattered over the marsh considerably beyond range. 

 I must confess that it required some restraint on my part 

 to refrain from firing, when this fat prize turned lier 

 head toward the river and began to move in the du-ection 

 of the others. "Tlieyll graze roimd here bumbuy," 

 whispered the ti-ader; "all we have to do is to keep quiet." 

 It was chilly work standing in the deep snow amid drip- 

 pmg branches, when every stitch upon us was soaking 

 wet. But patience had its reward. The herd now turned 

 their heads toward the skkt of the droke, and slowly 

 but steadily moved up toward where we lay concealed. 

 The doe was not nearest this time when we held consul- 

 tation about firing. But I wanted her and requested the 

 other two to take those nearest them. "Ready!" said the 

 trader; "Fue!" and the three guns went off simultane- 

 ously. Mv doe was do^\^l, but not for long. I saw her 

 make off at a speed almost incredible on three legs, two 

 fore and one hind. She was standing side on when I 

 fired, so that I made a double error in drawing my 

 muzzle sKghtly to the right, besides letting it drop too 

 much. For tile rest, the ti-ader had shot his, a small buck, 

 stone dead, the bullet piercing htm "abaft the fore 

 shoulder," which brougJit it within an inch of the heart. 

 The other did not strike his, though the game was not 

 thirty paces off, and browsing from an alder tree when 

 the sportsman fired at liini. I followed up my doe and 

 gave her another barrel, but this time— I was nervous I 

 suppose— I missed again. I was not, however, disposed 

 to surrender the coveted beauty. I was ready very soon 

 again, ran with aU speed, and laid her low as she was, 

 with increchble speed, hobbling around the point of a 

 ridge. From a small flock this was not bad, and after 

 having drawn our game and cut off a choice haunch for 

 supper, we started for the tot. 



To our sm-prise on our return to the tilt we f oimd a 

 large herd of dogs, four or five sleds, and as many deer 

 hunters posted in camp and busily engaged preparing a 

 meal. The trader knew them. The;y had come from 

 some point on the bay about forty miles distant for the 

 double pm-pose of deer' slaying dm-ing the passage season 

 and for carrying away those killed in the autumn. Then 

 I learned from the trader that it had been the custom for 

 several years back for two or three parties to fit them- 

 selves out in spring and fall for shooting expeditions. 

 The carcasses of those killed in the early winter "w^ere 

 covered with ice and snow, under which they remained 



