CREATURES OF MYSTERY 
93 
of scientific bodies find it more convenient to brand all such as 
laymen’s myths than to go out into the wild and spend the 
number of years which might be required in order to see for 
themselves. The two following observations represent the 
sum total of what this old gentleman witnessed during an 
entire lifetime spent in the wild, or adjacent to heavily infested 
lands: 
In a green pine tree near his residence it seemed that all the 
blue jays from all up and down the river swamp had gathered. 
They were screaming and flitting from limb to limb as they 
centered their gaze upon a dense cluster of boughs. Looking 
with care to discern the cause of their distress he observed a 
swamp snake, sometimes called goose snake (because of the 
hissing noise they make when disturbed) coiled about a limb. 
They were giving him a scolding as they flitted here and there. 
There was one blue jay upon which the serpent had his wicked 
eye riveted just at that instant, and this bird continued draw¬ 
ing nearer, becoming less active all the while. Finally he stood 
practically motionless, and with feathers all disheveled, within 
six inches of the serpent, looking hard at him. At this juncture 
the old hypnotist opened his mouth, reached out leisurely and 
took the bird about the neck. A loaded shotgun prevented a 
kill, and the doomed bird flew away with the others. 
Some writers undertake to explain that birds and animals, 
under the circumstances just mentioned, are attracted to the 
serpent by mere curiosity. We would like to call attention to 
the fact that when a number of birds have been attracted to a 
serpent, as mentioned above, a lone bird always appears to be 
the victim of his overpowering influence. The writer would 
like to insist that if it were mere curiosity that afflicted the 
lone bird, then why would not all the others be similarly 
afflicted, especially in view of the fact that they are all of the 
same species, and necessarily subject to the same limitations, 
and to the same attractions? We fear, Mr. Scientist, that you 
will have to explain these things on a more convincing basis. 
It was the same species of serpent, but an unfortunate squir¬ 
rel, on this occasion. The attention of the same old gentleman 
was attracted to the squirrel by reason of his racing up and 
