March 17, 1894.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



223 



MAN AND SNAKES. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



Brother Kephart has "come back at me" in such a 

 graceful manner in the snake issue that I feel impelled to 

 send him a brotherly greeting and t shake through your 

 friendly columns. I had no intention, however, of exer- 

 cising such hasty judgment as to place him in the cate- 

 gory of gan-ie butchers, etc. , but merely used his snake 

 incident as a text for a sermon on a subject of much in- 

 terest to myself, and, I hope, to other humanely disposed 

 sportsmen. 



Mr. Kephart with considerable adroitness places me in 

 a very delicate position as between the serpent and the 

 ladies. A gentleman of the name of Adam got into 

 trouble in a somewhat similar conjuncture many years 

 ago. If T have a greater weakness than for snakes it is 

 for the ladies, and if, as Mr. Kephart intimates, the same 

 old grudge continues to subsist between them, rendering 

 all hope of reconcilement impossible, then I would have 

 to separate them. I should first have demonstrated the 

 snake's harmlessness, and if the ladies still declined to 

 extend him social recognition on the picnic grounds (or 

 other grounds) I would have removed him to a safe dis- 

 tance. In the original episode between the serpent and 

 the women, it was the latter who had to retire and leave 

 the serpent in possession of the picnic grounds. But in 

 this more fortunate epoch the ladies are the undisputed 

 presiding genii in all the Gardens of Eden that serve to 

 brighten this otherwise unendurable "footstool," and the 

 snakes must go if they demand it. 



I Will relate an incident apropos to the picnic occur- 

 rence. I once rescued an innocent snake from the angry 

 attack of some Irish laborers. The snake was of a species 

 Which is very common in this country, of a general olive 

 color, with shadings in large pattern, long and slender in 

 shape, and which, for want of a better name, I call the 

 bird snake, because he is a great climber. I picked him 

 up by the head and tail, and placing him at full length on 

 the trunk of a large tree, he very quickly climbed up out 

 of danger. By the way, the revelation of Capt. Gallup, 

 that snakes have feet is a very interesting one, if he has 

 made no mistake about it. 



Mr. Kephart suggests the possibility of a snake getting 

 himself entirely "out of place" by running up his trousers' 

 leg. I have an incident to meet that suggestion, showing 

 the complete compatibility of such a situation. I was 

 once walking in the suburbs of a town with a lady friend, 

 and seeing a small snake coiled on the roadside, I placed 

 my foot lightly on his back. In a few moments, raising 

 my foot to see how the snake was faring, I discovered the 

 end of his tail sticking out from the bottom of my trousers, 

 while his head was about my knee. As this happened to 

 be a garter snake, I recognized the appropriateness of his 

 familiarity. I clasped my hands about my leg, and a 

 slight kick brought him out. The lady, strange to say, 

 did not "take a fit,'' nor make any demonstration, but 

 viewed the whole proceeding very coolly. 



Last summer my attention was attracted by the scold- 

 ing of several bluejays about the roots of a tree near my 

 office Window, Going out to the tree, I discovered what 

 t expected, a bird snake among its roots. I picked him 

 up, and carrying him across the street to a Jew store, I 

 placed him in the show case among the "fine jewelry," 

 cravats, collars, etc. The Jew was delighted with his 

 novel acquisition, thinking the snake would prove a "tak- 

 ing card," and attract customers. But he afterward told 

 me that "de niggers wouldn't come in de store wid dat 

 snase in dere," and so he sent his snakeship to a saloon 

 near by, but he proved to be non grata to the saloon- 

 keeper also, who dispatched him. 



A word about the "glass snake," alluded to by Mr. 

 Kephart. I was for a long time skeptical about the exist- 

 ence of such a creature, classing him along with stinging 

 snakes, ghosts, etc., but did conceive that there might be 

 a snake with an extra long tail of very brittle constitution, 

 like that of some lizards, which theory was confirmed not 

 long ago by seeing a specific description of a specimen by 

 a writer who described what he himself saw, and who 

 impressed me as being an accurate observer. The speci- 

 men, as I remember the description, was about 20in. long, 

 and considerably more than half its length was tail, con- 

 sisting of thin transverse laminee, with a very small and 

 tender vertebral column in the middle, which readily 

 separated, from a slight blow with a switch. 



Coahoma. 



ClahEsDale, Miss., March 6. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



In his museum in St. Augustine Dr. Vedder has several 

 specimens of the "glass snake," which is a lizard (Opheo- 

 saurus veniralis), known to naturalists as the serpent 

 lizard. It has no legs and its locomotion is that of a 

 serpent. Back of the vital parts its body is very brittle, 

 owing to delicate articulation, and when seized by the 

 tail or the after part of the body it breaks in two. Dr. 

 Vedder says that hawks sometimes strike the glass 

 snake just behind the stomach, and make away with 

 what they have seized of the creature; but what is left 

 is after all the whole snake except its tail. When broken 

 in this way it grows a new tail, but only an inch or two 

 long, and of perfect taper. The glass snake is very 

 slender; some of those shown by Dr. Vedder are from 

 ISM. to 2ft. in length. E. H. E. 



Editor Forest and Stream : 



I have been somewhat worked up by the various articles 

 recently in dear Forest and Stream on the snake ques- 

 tion. "Coahoma" evidently knows what he is talking 

 about, though I do not agree with him entirely. But I 

 did not suppose any one living in a snake country doubted 

 the ability, especially of the black species, to clinib trees. 

 Of course tbey are climbers, and pretty good ones, too. 

 How they do it I do not pretend to demonstrate. The 

 first big blacksnake that I remember to have seen in a 

 tree in my boyhood days was on a limb of a small tree, 

 some 8 or 10ft. from the ground. My attention was called 

 to the spot by the twittering and fluttering of a bird, as 

 though in distress. Upon approaching and gazing 

 through the bushes, which were quite thick thereabouts, 

 I discovered a largesnake coiled about a limb, his head 

 erect, his eyes glittering and mouth open, facing a small 

 bird on the same limb and but a few feet away, The bird 



seemed fascinated, charmed, I verily believed, by the 

 black scoundrel, and could only flutter and feebly pro- 

 test. Had I not interfered, the little thing would have 

 soon fallen a victim, and the nest of little ones would 

 have soon followed. I popped the robber over, when the 

 little warbler immediately fell to the ground, where for a 

 few moments it fluttered feebly, then seemed to gather 

 strength as the charm passed off, raised its little head, 

 shook itself and was off to a neighboring bush. This was 

 a blacksnake nearly 4ft. in length. 



I have killed many since, some much larger. I never 

 spare them. Why, it is as natural for a boy to hate a 

 snake and kill them as it is for him to eat molasses 

 candy or go a-fishing. It is inherent and requires no 

 education. Does it not say , "And the seed of the woman 

 shall bruise his head with his heel." It is born in us. 

 What singular tastes some people, have to tolerate or love 

 a snake when even the smell of the little garter or grass 

 snake, the most harmless of all, is sickening. After 

 handling one the odor will hang to your fingers all day. 



As to tree climbing, do you not recall the anecdote of 

 Audubon? I believe its authenticity has never been 

 questioned. Upon one of his excursions he discovered 

 the hole of a flicker or yellowhammer (highhple we used 

 to call them when a boy), on a dead tree some 40ft. from 

 the ground. The naturalist was soon up the tree, and 

 thrusting his hand into the hole for the eggs or young- 

 birds, when with a yell he let go and came straight down 

 the 40ft. to the ground. His attendant rushed up to him 

 exclaiming, "My dear master, are you hurt?" Upon 

 gathering himself up and giving himself a shake or two, 

 he replied in his broken English, "No, but if you want' 

 see one scare snake, look in dat hole." He had put his 

 hand on a black fellow enjoying his dinner of the eggs or 

 young. A surprise probably to both parties. 



I like "Hermit's" article and especially Mr. Beal's. It is 

 natural to hate a snake, and I will kill them whenever I 

 come across them, and will go out of my way, and even 

 miss a shot at grouse to lay out a black one— one of those 

 deceitful, merciless scoundrels, what good are they any 

 way? They are not very good to eat, though the Indians, 

 some of them, think so, and from curiosity when so- 

 journing with them I have tasted roasted rattlesnake; 

 which is a rich dish with some tribes. The meat was white 

 and very sweet, but I don't hanker after it. But a black- 

 snake or a water adder, augh! If we wish to_ preserve 

 the eggs of our quail or grouse or even of the little war- 

 blers that make our glens and woodlands vocal we must 

 declare war upon the crawling gormandizers. We can't 

 have both. There is an irrepressible conflict and it is the 

 choice between the two. For me, give me birds around 

 my woodland home, and not the sneaking, slimy woods 

 pirate. All things living are created by Providence for 

 some wise purpose, we are told, even mosquitoes and 

 roaches. Nevertheless for our own protection and com- 

 fort we kill them. Hence I am down on snakes. 



Jacobstaff. 



[Mr. Kephart's original inquiry, in our issue of Jan. 27, 

 was not as to whether blacksnakes climb trees, for we all 

 know that they do, but "how does a snake descend a 

 nearly vertical surface so very slowly without perceptible 

 muscular movement in a perfectly straight line, when its 

 belly scales slope the wrong way for the trip?" 



Albino Specimens.1 



Cincinnati, O. — I read an interesting account in a re- 

 cent Forest and Stream of an albino redwing blackbird, 

 and the writer wishes to know if any one knows of 

 another such specimen. I never heard of this freak be- 

 fore occurring in the redwing, although it is just as apt 

 to happen in them as in any other kind of bird, animal or 

 human being. Albinos should be considered rare and 

 procured and preserved whenever possible, and I here 

 suggest that the work of preserving be given to a reliable 

 taxidermist, as another albino of the same type or species 

 may never be procured again. We have in our Cuvier 

 Club albinos, among which is a purple grackle (crow 

 blackbird). The top of head, back of neck, back, tail, 

 long feathers in wings and toenails are white; bill, throat, 

 breast, legs and part of the wings black as in the ordinary 

 color. 



Another is a robin which is a perfect albino. Another 

 is a red-tailed hawk, a perfect albino excepting the eyes 

 which I believe are black. Two quail are not white but 

 between pink and light brown; the heads are a trifle 

 lighter in color than in the original type. Of two crows, 

 one is snow white with pink eyes, and tke other is a more 

 soiled specimen, and the eyes are black. We also have 

 albino squirrels which seem to be quite common. I re- 

 member a perfect albino squirrel whose home is under 

 the eaves of the Cleft House at Devil's Lake, Wisconsin. 

 This one was a very tame one and a little tapping on the 

 tree near the house would bring him down and he would 

 not refuse to take nuts from one's hands. 



F. B. Magill. 



fag nni 



Communications for publication relating to business 

 should be'addressed to the Forest and Stream Pub. Co. If 

 addressed to an individual they will be subject to delay in 

 that individual's absence. 



"The Leaping Ouananiche." 



The ouananiche is rapidly coming iuto prominence, and 

 is attracting the attention of anglers everywhere. Little 

 has ever been published concerning where, when and 

 how to catch this fish; and to answer the questions con- 

 stantly being asked on all sides regarding it, Mr. Eugene 

 McCarthy has written a brochure, which will be ready 

 in a few days. Paper, price 50 cents. Published and for 

 sale by Forest and Stream Pub. Co. , New York. 



Where to Find Game. 



Where to find game is oftentimes a perplexing question. The sports- 

 man who strikes a good spot generally keeps the information as close 

 as possible, in order to enjoy exclusive privileges. 



Along the line of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad in Virginia and 

 West Virginia, such places are numerous, and it is remarkable how 

 little they are known. The mountain streams abound in* gamy fish. 

 Tbe South Branch of the Potomac is considered the best black bass 

 fishing stream in America, the Cheat, Youghiogheny, Potomac and 

 Monongahela Rivers are all excellent fishing streams. The hills and 

 valleys adjacent are fairly alive with game— partridge, wild turkey, 

 grouse, pheasant, wild pigeon, quail, rabbit and squirrel are plentiful, 

 and in the back country thirty or forty miles from the railroad, deer 

 and bear can be found. 



Good hotels are convenient, and horses and guides can be secured at 

 reasonable rates. 



For circular showing fishing and gunning resorts reached by the 

 B. & O. R. R. address Chas. O. Scull, Gen'l Pass. Agent, B. & O. R. R., 

 Baltimore, Md, — Adv. 



The FOEEST AND Stream is put to press each week on Tues- 

 day. Correspondence intended for publication should reach 

 us at the latest by Monday, and as m uch earlier as 'practicable* 



TWO DEER WITH ONE BULLET. 



Beading an article entitled "Strange Coincidences" re- 

 minded me of two curious double shots, one of which 

 befel me while hunting and camping in the Adirondacks. 

 We had been fairly successful with the rod and were in 

 no need of venison, as the two hams of a fat young buck 

 still remained to satisfy our present needs. For several 

 days we made no effort to replenish our larder in that 

 line of goods until the hams had almost gone and the dis- 

 mal prospect of salt ham and pork made fresh meat a 

 necessity. 



One evening, after many previous unsuccessful ones, 

 while my friend and the guide had departed down the 

 river with the boat, I set out to look at an old skiff on the 

 bank, with the prospect of doing a little floating on my 

 own account. I waited until the two hunters got well 

 started, as I knew they would only ridicule the notion of 

 my trying to handle the paddle and rifle alone. Taking 

 my Winchester I started on my lonely way toward the 

 landing, it was about a mile distant and I hoped to get 

 there, look at the boat, and if it was all right return and 

 get the lantern, etc. , before dark. I made the trip in a 

 half hour and found the old boat a useless hulk and in 

 such ill repair that I gave up all hopes and started back 

 to camp. Dusk had already advanced sufficiently to make 

 objects rather indistinct and my progress through the 

 brush was by no means noiseless. In one place the 

 trail led through a patch of moss-covered tamarack 

 and there silence reigned supreme. Just as I turned 

 a sharp corner around a huge boulder, three large 

 gray objects sprang from the brush with a crash, not 

 thirty feet away. All was indistinct, but during that 

 exciting moment I managed to recover myself enough to 

 draw a bead on one of the fleeting objects. A puff of 

 smoke and all was over. I ran forward eagerly to see 

 what damage I had done, and to my unutterable surprise 

 found a four-year-old buck lying over a log with a .45-70 

 through his sleek blue neck. After examining my trophy 

 carefully I came to the conclusion that this was not the 

 deer I had shot at. Of course this was by no means flat- 

 tering to mv marksmanship and sorely puzzled me. I 

 examined all the tracks with great care and found that 

 three deer had broken cover at my approach, and what 

 was my astonishment when I discovered another track 

 running horizontally with the one of the deer I had shot. 

 Following this up a "short way, I noticed spots of blood on 

 the moss, and could hardly believe my eyes when I almost 

 stumbled over the carcass of a doe shot clean through the 

 heart. Gradually things unraveled themselves. Evi- 

 dently I had shot at the deer running nearest to me, and 

 that was the doe. The uncanny bullet had penetrated her 

 fragile frame and struck the buck which was running 

 horizontally with her on the further side. Of course I 

 found him first, as the shot broke his spine and he fell in 

 his tracks instantly. 



I had a great laugh on the hunters who returned unsuc- 

 cessful and almost frozen, and of course they would not 

 believe what I said until they had seen the deer. This is 

 the only instance that I know to be true, except one other, 

 where a man has taken a quick shot at a bounding deer 

 and had the luck to kill not only the one he fired at but a 

 second also with the same bullet. G. Stanton. 



WASHrXG'i'OS, D._C. 



YELLOWSTONE PARK NOTES. 



Last month Capt. G. S. Anderson, superintendent of the 

 Yellowstone National Park, sent out a party of scouts to 

 the buffalo country in Hay den Valley to learn how the 

 game was wintering. 



The party left the post on Feb. 10 and got back on the 

 20th. They encountered bitterly cold weather but had 

 few snow storms, and no trouble in getting about. They 

 saw 50 elk on Swan Lake flat, and at the Yellowstone 

 Canon counted 300 on the other side of the river. About 

 200 were seen on Pelican Creek. Of buffalo, they saw 12 

 4 of them calves — on Astringen Creek, a branch of Peli- 

 can; 45 in the Hayden Valley, 9 of these being calves; 

 another hunch of 40 with 7 calves, another of 28 with 4 

 calves, and two little bunches of 7 and 6 each. They also 

 saw two buffalo on Nez Percez Creek and saw signs of 

 more. From all this it is apparent that the buffalo are 

 more scattered this winter than usual, and that a good 

 many of them are on the east side of the Yellowstone 

 River. This goes to show that they are wintering well, 

 since when snows are deep they are apt to collect in the 

 Hayden Valley. Besides the elk mentioned, above 800 

 were seen on Sour Creek and 18 in the Hayden Valley. 



A week or two since a despatch appeared in the New 

 York papers stating that poachers had killed in the Yel- 

 lowstone Park a whole herd of buffalo, that the poachers 

 had been captured by the troops, and that Capt. Anderson 

 had them in the guard house at Ft. Sheridan. This on 

 its face appeared to be a fake, for any news from the 

 Yellowstone Park would not come to us from a point so 

 distant and to the west as Boise City, Idaho. There is 

 not the slightest reason for believing that there is any truth 

 in the despatch. . 



A rum or was recently current at Livingston and Cinna- 

 bar that two men whom Capt. Anderson had in the guard 

 house in December, have gone out to the Hayden Valley 

 for buffalo, but nothing definite is known about this. 

 There is probably nothing in it. An old offender is known 

 to have recently been over on Pelican Creek with a 

 toboggan. He was not seen, but some of the soldiers got 

 on his trail and followed it out by Soda Butte, which he 

 passed in the night and then went on to Cooke. 



A snowsboe party from Fort Sheridan crossed over 

 Mount Everts on snowshoes about the middle of February 

 and saw 103 elk, besides a very large herd which they 

 could not count more than a mile distant from them. 

 They also saw 33 mule deer, a band of sheep very close to 

 them, but most of them over the hill and out of sight, 

 and about 250 or more antelope. JJ 

 J A few days after this the same party went through the 

 I Swan Lake'basin on snowshoes, and found it full of elk 

 which were busily employed digging at the snow to get 

 1 at the grass, and seemed in good order. 



