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REPTILES aes

Hermit Naturalist

BY

Fred. Alexander Lucas.

‘There have been holy men, who hid themselves,
Deep in the woody wilderness.”—BRYANT.

TRENTON, N. J.
Wm. HIBBERT, PRINTER AND STEREOTYPER,
210 8S. Broad Street.

1899,

ial

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8

CONTENTS.

PAGE.

CHAPTER I.—The old hermit...............-008+ eee
His hermitage.. ......00 occccrecccccere 10

His island retreat.........0. scscsess 18

TEs 2000, TAGE. |. . cixgternaeomcacsacans 23

CHAPTER II.—The life habits of snakes...... 28
Senses of smakes, .............00008 35

How snakes feed...............-..-- 39

Shedding the skin...............44. 48

Modes of defemse.........0...seeeeee 53

How snakes breed.........scccceee 59

PROPOR sos. cocccsdncceccssences 66

Do snakes charm ?..........2:+++++ 69

CHAPTER III.—Our common snakeg............. 73
The Garter snakes............... 73

The Water snakes................ 78

The Spreading adder........... 81

The Binck sHakO.o.s.005005-.24.- 84

of if 30S eg Ts 1. ee 89

The Chain snake: ..5... 2.20000! 91

4

CHAPTER III.—The Fox snake... .ccccccscoscccceee 92
The Summer Green snake... 92
The Ring-neck snake........... 93
DeKay’s Brown snake......... 94
The Red Bellied snake......... 94
The Grass snake......cccccsceceee 95
CHAPTER IV.—A happy ‘ find.’'...........ceceneeee 96
PUIG. BT ncssdssncanecces.pinchasnecs 97
STG IR BIO.” wus sce javcencsveeenvewseane 99
Glad tidings...........cccsscosseesses 109
TRO TO-UDIOD «05 .ccesesscsdccsepscnes 117

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THE

Hermit Naturalist

CHAPTER I.

THE OLD HERMIT.

**He can behold,
Things manifold,
That have not yet been wholly told.”—LONGFELLOW.

In a historic vicinity in the Delaware river
lies a small island. One would hardly deem
this isolated spot a pleasant abiding place. Yet
a small, white-washed, rough, stone dwelling,
with shutterless windows, and destitute of porch
or balcony, stands in the center of this island.
A short distance from the dwelling there is a
low, rambling wooden building, used for the
accommodation of live-stock. A small vegeta-
ble patch, showing evidence of careful cultiva-
tion, occupies a portion of the contracted area.
A few storm-beaten, yet still sturdy trees, and
a rank growth of berry-vines, bushes and
shrubbery constitute the physical attractions of
this quiet solitude.

Frequently, during my walks along the Del-
aware’s shores in pursuit of knowledge of
Nature’s mysteries, I have reclined on a grassy

6

bank on the mainland opposite the island, and
endeavored by critical observation to learn
something of the mystery environed tenants
of the cheerless isle. I have noticed a short,
stout old man attending to the live-stock, or at
woik in the garden, or otherwise engaged, but
I felt impressed that he was not the only
human dweller on the island. Several times
during my numerous visits to my point of ob-
servation on the mainland, I noticed a stalwart,
white-haired old gentleman in a boat, that was
usually anchored some distance from shore; I
could hardly decide at times whether he was
fishing or dreaming, so quiet would he remain
while I watched him. In my romantic fancy
this was the mysterious individual, who, doubt-
less for some good purpose, had taken up his
abode on this desolate spot, anxious to be apart
from human society and its disappointing ex-
periences. The more I observed the mystery
veiled dwellers on this isolated spot in the Del-
aware, the stronger grew my desire to become
acquainted with them. Fortune at last granted
my heart’s earnest longings, and brought me
into closer fellowship with “ the old hermit ”»—
as I had grown to style the lone fisherman—
than my strongest desires could crave.

On a frosty morning in the autumn of ’98,
when I was laboriously rowing against the
strong current of the Delaware, above tide-
water, in search of a specimen of wild fowl for
my cabinet, I saw the “ old hermit,” sitting like

7

a statue in his anchored boat. His shotgun
rested on his knees, and he was evidently
awaiting a shot at the wild-fowl that occasion-
ally fly over at this season of the year. Anx-
ious to secure a nearer view of my hermit
friend, I rowed towards him in such a manner
as not to arouse his suspicions of my curiosity
inspired purpose. I rowed but a short distance
when I observed a fine flock of wild ducks fly
over me. At once I turned my attention to the
lone sportsman. He also saw the game and
was standing easily in his boat and taking care-
ful aim. As the flock passed directly over him
he fired, when to my surprise and horror, he
lost his balance, dropped his gun and madly
grasped at the side of his boat as he went over-
board and disappeared from my anxious gaze,
in the swiftly rushing current. Believing the
current would carry him far below his anchored
boat, I pulled with all my strength to intercept
him as he came down stream. Soon his head
appeared above the surface of the water, a hun-
dred yards or so from me. Increasing my
efforts I soon rested in his way as the swift
current swept him toward me, and I called to
him to seize hold of my boat. He was an ex-
pert swimmer and soon grasped the stern of my
boat, when I shipped my oars, and helped him
aboard, chilled from the effects of his untimely
bath.

When safely seated in my boat, and having
recovered his breath after his exhausting efforts,

8

he seized my hand and fervently thanked me
for my timely assistance. |

“ Did I bag my game?” inquired my shiver-
ing companion, when fully restored to strength
and composure.

“Yes sir, one of the flock dropped on the
shore almost at the feet of the old man that
stood there wringing his hands in anguish
when your aecident occurred.”

“Poor Petro, he was doubtless horrified by
my mishap. I much feared I had lost my
game as well as my balance. You will under-
stand, that just as I drew a bead on the flock
and fired, a strong gust of wind so rocked my
boat, that its motion in conjunction with the
recoil of my fowling-piece, caused me to suffer
an inconvenient bath, and gave you an oppor-
tunity to demonstrate a vital truth, that man is
his brother’s keeper. I feel assured that, but
for your timely aid, the accident would have
proved disastrously serious. I must therefore
consider you my literal saviour, and I sincerely
hope and believe that time will prove how fully
I appreciate your kindly services. Now if you
will allow me to man the oars, I will be able to
keep my chilled blood in healthy circulation,
and soon land us on the island, when we will
allay Petro’s fears of any serious results follow-
ing my narrow escape.”

I was glad to comply with my companion’s
request, as I could then enjoy the opportunity
thus afforded me to critically view my new

. 9

friend. As we shot over the surface of the
swiftly rushing river, from the impetus given
by his strong, steady strokes, I decided that
my companion was a foreigner. I noticed that
he was a strongly built, well proportioned gen-
tleman, whose life had experienced the vicissi-
tudes of quite a half century. His face was a
study ; soft, full, smooth cheeks; a firm, sensi-
tive mouth, with well preserved teeth ; a strong
square chin, and high intellectual forehead ;
deep set, piercing gray eyes, well shaded by
shaggy eyebrows; a shapely head crowned
with a full growth of almost silky white hair.
His hands were white with tapering fingers;
his feet were neat and shapely, while his gen-
eral bearing impressed a casual observer with
the fancy that he was a military character.

This quick scrutiny, which I made while my
companion was propelling the boat rapidly
towards shore, convinced me that my new asso-
ciate was a gentleman born, used to the con-
ventionalities of the best society, and, withal, a
man of education and refinement. Doubtless
some strangeand powerful influence had caused
him to flee the associations of his fellowmen
and seek relief, and perhaps forgetfulness, in a
hermit’s cheerless, lonely life.

We had hardly reached shore, when Petro,
with eyes moist with joyous yet anxious tears,
rushed into the water to seize the boat’s bow
and draw us ashore, so solicitous was he for his
master’s welfare. As soon as my companion

10

stepped ashore, Petro fell at his feet in exuber-
ant joy inspired by the happy termination of
the accident. The hermit spoke kindly to the
faithful and devoted servant in a peculiar for-
eign tongue, when the poor fellow arose, his
eyes beaming with genuine joy as he looked
into his master’s face. <A short dialogue be-
tween these two strange beings, resulted in a
hearty welcome extended to me by Petro, and
unmistakable evidences of his full appreciation
of the services I rendered to his master.

“You will pardon my use of a foreign lan-
guage in addressing my servant, as he is utterly
ignorant of other speech. He is a Sicilian, and
since leaving his native isle, he has enjoyed no
opportunity to converse with anyone but me,
whom, I sincerely believe, he loves with a
superstitious affection. Now, you will kindly
pardon my absence, while I remove my wet
garments, and Petro will make you as welcome
as our poor accommodations will permit.”

Thus, gracefully, the old hermit left me.
Petro beckoned to me to follow him; this I did
readily, as the opportunity to solve the mys-
tery surrounding these lone dwellers on this
island retreat was at last presented in a manner
not to be anticipated.

HIS HERMITAGE,

I followed Petro to the hermitage, with all
my senses active to absorb all the facts that

11

my fancy had invented relative to my new sur-
roundings. The dwelling proved to be far
neater in external appearance than my distant
views of it led me to believe possible, while its
environments gave evidence of cleanly atten-
tion. Following Petro through the front door-
way, I observed that the hall continued through
the house and allowed exit through another
door-way in the rear. The ground floor con-
tained but two rooms, one on each side of the
hall, while a narrow, but substantial stairway
led to the upper floor. The room on the right
of the hall, as we entered the front door-way,
was evidently the kitchen, as I noticed, through
its door-way, a polished cooking stove, with a
most inviting fire peering through the grate,
and quite an assortment of shining cooking
utensils hanging on the ample chimney. Petro
ushered me into the room opposite to the
kitchen; this was certainly the dining-room
and sitting-room combined. It was neatly fur-
nished with a round center-table, several cane-
seated chairs and a substantial, hard-wood
sideboard. The walls were decorated with
unique old prints of foreign scenery, and a few
tastily framed paintings of a sporting char-
acter; trout fishing, snipe shooting, ete. A
grate wood-fire in a roomy old-fashioned chim-
ney place warmed this room. A box of smok-
ing tobacco, several pipes, Indian relics, and
shells embellished the wide mantel. Sports-
man’s equipments—rifles, shot-guns, and fish-

12

ing tackle—filled the corners of this cosy room,
while several old military relics hung on the
wide chimney.

Petro left me to enjoy my associations ;
which I did with true sutisfaction. While I
was seated before the genial warmth of the
cheerful grate fire, endeavoring to decipher the
nationality of the old prints on the walls, my
new friend entered the room.

“Ha, my young friend, I feel honored indeed
by your apparent ease and comfort in my hum-
ble abode, As we become better acquainted
you will gradually learn my peculiar ideas of
true home joys. Now kindly follow me up-
stairs, where I spend the rapidly speeding
hours of my but few lingering years, and you
will learn how I compensate myself for the loss
of human society.”

“T sincerely hope, my dear sir, that your
natural desire to manifest your true and full
appreciation of my slight services, will not in-
duce you to sufficiently restrain your very
proper aversion to a stranger’s trespass within
the sacred retreat of your private study.
Doubtless manifold evidences of your sacredly
quiet and isolated life are there discernible. I
shall feel keenly the serious error of my pre-
sumption in accepting an invitation to enter
the sanctuary of your private life, simply to
gratify a natural, though perhaps foolish, in-
quisitiveness.”

“Quiet your honest misgivings, my young

13

friend. I extend this hearty invitation to be-
come acquainted with my inner life, so far as
my secret associations will enable you, not
merely from courtesy, or as a partial recom-
pense for the kindly service rendered me, but
because I earnestly hope, and I shall endeavor,
to establish an honorable and lasting friendship
between us. I have long realized the need of a
human associate capable of understanding and
appreciating my labors within the limited ex-
tent of this isolated piece of earth. I am sin-
cerely impressed that your friendship and asso-
ciation will prove most congenial as well as
truly profitable to me. Ah, here we are, allow
me to usher you into my den. Down Pluto,
sir, this is my friend.”

This abrupt command of my companion
proved timely indeed, for my advance into the
“den” was most defiantly challenged by a
fierce specimen of a powerful blood-hound, that
evidently resented this seeming sacrilege of his
master’s sanctum. Having quieted this faithful
guardian of the sacred precincts, my host led
me to an easy chair near the warmth of an
open grate-fire; then calling Pluto to accom-
pany him, he gracefully retired and left me to
my quiet meditations.

This “den” as my kind host facetiously
titled his sanctum was peculiarly adapted to
the necessities of a cultivated mind and a re-
fined nature, separated from daily intercourse
with the great, busy, selfish world.

14

It was a roomy apartment, yet every avail-
able space was utilized with tact and neatness
that impressed one with its orderly, yet cosy
arrangements. All its furnishings gave evi-
dence of the refined nature of its intellectual
tenant. Several neat book-shelves securely
fastened to the walls of two sides of the room
showed by their well arranged contents, the
literary tastes of my hermit friend. Science,
history, philosophy, biography, poetry and the
higher class prose, were all well represented to
succor the mental and emotional cravings of
their favored student. Quite a variety of late
editions of newspapers and periodicals showed
that my host kept abreast of the times, and was
fully acquainted with the doings and the pre-
vailing sentiments of the outside world. I was
especially pleased with the numerous speci-
mens of Nature’s wonders, neatly arranged in
a commodious cabinet that occupied one side
of the “den.” This proof that my new friend
was assuredly an ardent student of Nature, as-
complished much toward strengthening the es-
teem I already entertained for him; as I real-
ized that he was a co-worker with me among
the inexhaustible riches of Nature’s extensive
realms. Birds, reptiles, fishes, crustaceans, in-
sects, etc. in interesting variety and careful
preparation composed this treasury of science,
In one corner of the room, there was placed an
oak stand on which rested a costly microscope 3
while near at hand stood a neat cabinet con-

15

taining the valuable requisites for successful
microscopical work. A well mounted specimen
of the Osprey or Fish-Hawk, with wings spread,
and a goodly size fish in his talons, rested, as
though just alighting with his quarry on a
rocky ledge. Cocoons of the silk worm moths
festooned the window-frames, while a large hor:
nets-nest hung from the ceiling in the center of
the room. A substantial oak desk well covered
with notes and manuscript occupied a central
spot in the “den;” and an easy chair and a
student’s lamp were proof that the hermit
burned “midnight oil” in securing that surest
means of earthly happiness, a well stored mind.

Two oil paintings hung on the south side of
the room ; these works of art riveted my admir-
ing gaze. One was the portrait of my hermit
host executed by a master when the subject
was a young man. The other was a picture of
the most charming womanly lovliness I had
ever looked on; it also represented youth, but
portrayed in virgin beauty and innocence.
Never can that marvelous face be banished from
my memory. While I was intently gazing at
this handiwork of some master’s skill my host
re-entered the “den.”

He stood for a moment, following, with his
intelligent glance, my admiring gaze, then with
a hardly audible sigh, he drew a chair to the
fire-place beside me, and there, in silence, he
sat for awhile, as though reluctant to disturb
my attention. After some minutes, he arose

16

and went to an artistically fashioned closet
neatly fitted into one corner of the chimney-
place, then he returned to my side with a
pouch of fragrant tobacco, and two oddly carved
pipes made of some strange foreign wood.

“Do you smoke, my young friend?” in-
quired my host as he proffered me pipe and
tobacco. ‘I shall be pleased to enjoy a pipe
with you while we become acquainted with
each other. In my opinion, a quiet smoke is
very conducive to an interchange of pleasant
confidence, and delightful congenialty between
friends, and many weary weeks have flown
since I last enjoyed a quiet smoke with a con-
genial companion.”

Accepting the hermit’s friendly offer, I
smoked on in silence, determined to give him
an opportunity to invite mutual confidence,
and thus prove to my perfect satisfaction that
his earnest expression of a strong desire to es-
tablish a full confidence, end a lasting friend-
ship between us was the true longings of his
heart, and not merely the manifestation of his
appreciation of my services in his behalf. Af-
ter a silent meditative smoke lasting several
minutes, the old hermit wheeled his chair
directly in front of me and looking steadily in-
to my eyes, calmly inquired:

“Now what opinion have you formed of my
hermit’s quarters ? ”

‘“ T candidly confess sir, I almost envy your
solitude among such associations and elevating

iY
influences. May I so far presume cn your hos-
pitality as to ask how Jong you have separated
yourself from human society to pass most de-
lightful hours amidst such satisfying compan-
ionships? ”

“Tet there exist no formality or diffidence
between us, my dear rescuer; let us at once be
friends and confidents; let me entertain and
nourish the hope that hereafter my life shall be
brightened, and my declining years shall be
made joyous by the intimacy and genial com-
panionship of one whom I shall ever highly
esteem, and whose presence I shall ceaselessly
yearn for as the brightest ray in the sunshine
of my but few lingering years. ’Tis but natural
that you should crave some knowledge of the
history of my past life, and some acquaintance
with the causes that drove me to this secluded
spot, where, far from the uncongenial associa-
tions of my fellowmen, I find rest for my weary
soul, and edification for my active mind with
Nature and my books. A brief retrospect of
my, not all unhappy, life I feel assured will
suffice to satisfy your natural desire to know
who I am, and why here.

I am a Sicilian by birth, of noble lineage.
While I was happy on my native estates, in
devotion to Nature study, the idol of my affec-
tions, a beautiful daughter but twelve years of
age, mysteriously disappeared from my home.
I exhausted every resource at my command for
her recovery, but without success. Nearly

18

maddened with grief and anxiety, I left my
native land. and for years in this quiet spot
I have not ceased to labor and to pray for her
return to me, or the positive proof that she is
no more.

But enough; my record is true, my hope is
yet strong; my desire is to win your esteem
and confidence. As to your credentials, based
on the unstable estimates of social position and
family relationships I care nothing; I hate the
frigid, heartless, conventionalities of selfish so-
ciety. Your face is a reliable index of your
true character ; future associations between us
will prove conclusively to my perfect satisfac-
tion, that I have made no error of judgment in
taking you to my bosom as a beloved and
trusted intimate companion. To me you shall
be simply, Fritz; to you I shall be simply, the
Count. Give me all the companionship of your
genial nature that circumstances will enable
you to steal away from the selfish exactions of
the outside world. I need your presence; you
may profit by my companionship; time will
tell. Yonder beautiful face is the image of my
lost idol, I will tell you something of her
history in the near future; not to-day, my
dear Fritz, not to-day.

HIS ISLAND RETREAT.

“But come, you have finished your pipe, let
me show you my kingdom. Pluto, here sir;

19

this is my friend; be kind and true to him,
even as you have for years been faithful to me;
advance sir, pledge your deathless devotion.”
Thus commanded, the intelligent brute looked
steadily into my eyes for a moment, as though
really reading my true character, then he ad-
vanced to me, licked my outstretched hand,
and prostrated his powerful form at my feet.

“Enough, Pluto will prove no mean com-
panion, my Fritz; but come, we will show our
mutual friend our possessions, eh, Pluto, good
dog; hie on sir, and show us the way.”

Leaving the house through the door at the
rear of the hall, and facing the sunny south, we
stopped for a few minutes beneath a grand old
oak, under whose branches a rustic seat rested.

‘Many pleasant minutes, with Pluto and my
pipe, I waste beneath this old oak. I shall
have Petro make another rustic-chair for you,
my dear Fritz, when we can then pass pleasant
hours here together, in contemplation of God’s
marvelous handiwork about us. Now let me
show you my live-stock ; not much in quantity
but best quality. Entering the shed we visited
the cow, a fine Alderney, that gave evidence of
the best care.

“Ah Uno, always ruminating in quiet con-
tentment; a penny for your thoughts my
beauty.” The mild-eyed bovine seemed to
appreciate her master’s caresses, for she turned
her handsome face towards him and licked his
hand. Next we visited the hennery, where sev-

20

eral fine specimens of the best poultry stock
were comfortably housed. In another portion
of the shed were piles of potatoes, turnips, cab-
bages and other hardy vegetables; while hang-
ing from the roof were strings of red and white
onions, peppers and soup herbs. Carefully
packed away in barrels in a corner of this shed
were luscious apples, all well protected from
the biting frosts of winter.

“These are products of your farm and
orchard, I suppose?”

“Yes, my dear Fritz, all evidences of Petro’s
faithful industry and commendable thrift; a
valuable servant is Petro, I could hardly spare
him.”

Beyond the shed we next visited a low, sub-
stantially built, rough stone building, neatly
whitewashed, about twenty feet square, and ten
feet in height. Here were stored barrels of
sugar, flour and molasses; boxes of tea, coffee,
rice, split-peas and beans, and several varieties
of canned goods, also several fine large cheese.
Beneath a trap-door, which my companion
raised, I saw quite a number of firkins of sweet,
yellow butter.

“You surely need entertain no fear of fam-
ine while these ample supplies continue.”

“No, my Fritz, we are careful to provide for
the needs of the body, and to look well to our
supplies, lest winter’s inclemency catch us un-
prepared to withstand its rigors. From our
well cultivated little farm, our cow, our chick-

21

ens, and our orchard; besides what an occa-
sional shot at the game birds in season, that
visit us, and such fish as the river affords, we
manage to live very comfortably and even en-
joy quite a variety of dishes. Petro is a good
provider. Such articles as we cannot raise he
secures from the village in barter for eggs, but-
ter and farm produce above the demands of
our limited needs. Our wearing apparel and
household furniture seldom require replenish-
ing, and when demanded, are usually secured
by Petro.”

Leaving the food supplies we traversed the
contracted isle, viewing the numerous old trees
and young saplings. Wild grape vines, in pro-
fusion, and vines and bushes of several varie-
ties of small fruits showed the effects of Petro’s
judicious and careful attention. On the south
side of the island, along the river’s shore, Petro
had erected a log hut, in which a row-boat and
a commodious scow were housed during win-
ter, while in one corner of it was stacked a
large quantity of dry, tough cord-wood, pre-
pared against the time of need, when winter’s
frosty breath made a blazing fire not only
cheerfnl but absolutely necessary.

“During winter, I imagine your surround-
ings are dreary indeed.”

“Out of doors, doubtless, my Fritz, but with-
in we have the crackling logs, the genial
warmth, and my books, you know, my books.”

“Ah, yes, to a scholar cloistered with his

3

22

books, what matters how the winds howl, the
trees moan, the snow covers the face of Nature,
and all about appears cheerless and desolate.”

“True, my Fritz, quite true. But let us re-
turn, we have but little of cheerfulness to show
on our isle at this season, but wait till budding
spring and summer’s warm breath revive our
now desolate realm, we can then show you a
piece of paradise. You shall see and enjoy for
yourself then, my Fritz.”

Returning to the hermitage we learned that
Petro had prepared a tempting meal for us in
the cheery dining-room. After fully satisfying
our sharpened appetites we retired to the her-
mit’s sanctum, where we enjoyed a restful
smoke. Here for an hour or more the old her-
mit entertained me with a most enjoyable ac-
count of how he secured his fine zoological col-
lection. He found the greater number of his
specimens on the main-land, where, during
pleasant weather, he spent much of his time in
search of Nature’s objects of study.

As evening was rapidly drawing nigh I was
compelled, though reluctantly, to bid farewell
to the old hermit, promising to repeat my visit
early, and boarding my boat I was soon swiftly
gliding down stream, homeward bound.

Arriving again within the busy whirl of town
life, I felt that my visit to the old hermitage
and the day’s experiences were but a pleasant
dream, from which I was now rudely awak-
ened. But frequent renewals of this pleasant

23

intercourse with my mystery environed hermit
friend soon dissipated this peculiar delusion,
and most happily assured me of the true real-
ity of my pleasant and profitable relationship
with the “ old hermit.”

Enjoying his fullest confidence, I soon learned
during my pleasant associations with the “ old
hermit,” that he had suffered a most trying
sorrow in the loss of a beautiful daughter, the
whole joy of his quiet, earnest life. Of noble
lineage, his great wealth and vast territorial
estates enabled him to give full and devoted
attention to the study of Nature, the love of
which was strong in him.

HIS LOST IDOL.

He was a born naturalist; and eschewing
the empty dissipations of high life, he was hap-
piest, when with his only child, the idol of his
heart, he rambled among the wide expanses of
Nature within his own possessions. His lovely
daughter, left motherless at an early age, was
the sole companion of the Count during these
delightful rambles, and as she grew into beauti-
ful young womanhood, he watched her daily
with the keenest solicitude and the deepest af-
fection. One day, while he was absent on one
of his usual rambles, after a prolonged stay, he
returned at evening to his luxurious home, and
was surprised to receive no demonstrative wel-
come from his idolized child. Entering the
house he inquired of the servants where their

24

young mistress could be found, and he was
both shocked and alarmed to hear that they
had seen nothing of her since noon, and sup-
posed naturally enough, that she was with him.
At once, almost frenzied with solicitude for his
darling child, he instituted a careful search for
her; soon the villagers became aware of his sad
state and everyone joined in a careful search
for the missing daughter. Every resource was
exhausted ; months of most careful and shrewd
investigation by skilled detectives, accompanied
with lavish expenditure of money ; the offer of
almost fabulous sums for her recovery and re-
turn to her home, with sacred pledges that no
prosecutions would follow, all, all failed.

On that charming May day the Count’s idol-
ized child dropped out of his life as completely
as if supernatural influences had caught her up
into another sphere of existence and she was
no more of this earth. Well, year followed
year, and the tireless and love-inspired search
for his lost child after the expenditure of large
sums of money, simply secured to the grief-
stricken father, a slight ray of hope that she
still lived. He learned that on that cruelly
memorable day in sunny May, a band of bri-
gands from the mountain retreats of the far
Apennines passed through the village on its
way to the wilderness, and it was proved that
this band abducted the Count’s child while
she was on her way to join her father in his
ramble.

25

The primary object sought in her abduction
was doubtless a heavy ransom from her wealthy
parent for her safe return. The appearance of
the lovely captive at the rendezvous of the bri-
gand band at once gave rise to a peculiar com-
plication that hardly any amount of money
could possibly settle. The manly young son
of the stern old chief of the band at once
fell in love with the beautiful maiden. His
eccentric yet iron-willed father so encouraged
the son’s tender fancy as to issue a decree, that
went forth to the tribe, that in the sweet, young
captive, the band saw their future queen. Of
course such an edict, issued by the head and
despotic ruler of the band, warranted to the
beautiful but sad maiden the full devotion
and personal service of every member. But
there was one dissenting voice among the
usually strictly obedient band; this was the
gallant young leader of the small party that
abducted the lovely prize. He _ hesitated
not to vehemently protest against the unjust
procedure of disposing of his hostage without
the consent or agreement of the band that se-
cured the prize. He boldly declared his depth-
less love for the fair maiden, and further stated
that for weeks he, with a few picked and trusted
associates, had time after time sought the oc-
casion that so opportunely placed her in
his hands. He would pay the ransom for the
mutual profit of the band if it was demanded,
but he sternly protested against such an unpre-

26

cedented act as to deliberately give his prize to
another without his knowledge or consent.
The old chief was inexorable, however; his
royal edict had been proclaiméd, nothing could
recall it.

Time passed; the sweet young captive, under
the tender care of most soticitous attendants
grew into the band as a member of it. After
two years of captivity, yet royal liberty, it was
proclaimed that within two short weeks the
chief’s gallant young son would wed the lovely
stranger. All was excitement and joyous ex-
pectation among the members of the tribe;
every preparation was made for a gala time.
The days flew by swiftly till the morning of a
short week preceding the festal occasion, when
the greatest surprise and penumbing consterna-
tion seized hold of the tribe. Lo, the bride
was missing The most careful search discov-
ered that her trusted attendants had been
stupefied by some chemical influence and left
bound and gagged. But the most important
fact explaining all, was the discovery that the
jealous suitor of the beautiful maiden was also
missing. The most searching investigation
proved that the traitorous brigand and_ his
lovely captive had set sail for some foreign
port in a fruiter that just left Messina, whose
destination it was believed would be the United
States of America.

This meagre yet welcome information rela-
tive to his idol’s experience was secured by the

27

nearly heart-hroken parent from a member of
the band whose queen the abducted daughter
was to be. Confident that his lost child was
somewhere in the great New World, the Count
disposed of his vast estates, and accompanied
by faithful Petro, he sailed from his native land
for New York. Arriving in the great metropo-
lis of the western world, the Count secured the
skilled services of noted detectives and prose-
cuted an earnest search for his loved lost-one
in the great city. After weeks of fruitless effort,
disheartened and almost distracted with grief
and anxiety, he sought out the quiet isolated
isle in the Delaware river, and there in the
privacy of a hermit’s life he has ceased not to
labor and pray and wait for the return of his
lost darling. After securing his island home,
the Count furnished it to suit his humble
tastes and depending on faithful Petro to man-
age the estate, he devoted his time to a studious
observation and investigation of Nature’s mys-
teries.

CHAPTER II.

THE LIFE-HABITS OF SNAKES,

My heart is awed within me when I think

Of the great miracle that still goes on

In silence, ’round me; the perpetual work of Thy crea-
tion.

During the winter of ’93 I spent many days
in most profitable association with the “old
hermit;” and I learned much of Nature’s
mysteries from his wide experience and exten-
sive knowledge. I never left the hermitage,
however, without casting one tender glance at
the beautiful face that smiled down on me from
its place on the wall. It seemed to inspire me
with an inexpressibly happy conviction that
somewhere, at some time in the near future, it
would be my sacred privilege under Providence
to enjoy the thrice blessed opportunity to meet
the original of that enchanting picture, and to
be in God’s hands the honored instrument to
return a long lost idolized daughter to a sad
and grief worn, yet still hopeful father.

Professional duties had prevented my pres-
ence at the hermitage for several weeks.
Finally I succeeded in my efforts to sever all
exacting demands on my time that prolonged
my absence from the “old hermit,” and I made
arrangements of such a character as to allow
me the rich enjoyment of a protracted visit

29

with my greatly esteemed naturalist friend.
So on a stormy morning in December I breasted
wind and snow in a laborious tramp along the.
Delaware’s shore toward the hermitage, crossed
the frozen river, received a hearty welcome
from both Petro and Pluto, and was soon after
cozily seated in the warm embrace of the old
hermit’s cheery “ den.”

The Count’s reception on that stormy De-
cember morning, after weeks of grievous sep-
aration, was hearty and affectionate. I was
impressed by his kind welcome that my pres-
ence was most congenial to, and highly prized
by my sincere and honest naturalist friend.

“T am so pleased to see you again, my dear
Fritz, that I am tempted to lay aside my labors
and devote my whole time to-day, to insuring
your comfort and enjoying your return to me.”
“Ah, my dear Count, you know full well it
needs no waste of precious time to assure me
of your true and hearty delight to again wel-
come me back to the hermitage. Our mutual
pleasure on this occasion of our happy re-union
after weeks of grievous separation will be most
fully and satisfactorily manifested in an earnest
and profitable consideration of the labor that
fell to our hands while absent, one from the
other.”

“You speak truly and wisely, my Fritz, so I
will at once return to the enjoyable labor in
which I was engaged when your most desired
presence interrupted me. I will now devote

30

myself to the work with greater zeal and de-
light because of your association and _ assist-
ance. For several days I have been busily em-
ployed arranging and carefully revising my
notes of observations and experiments made
during the year now closing. You will be a
most valuable aid in the satisfactory comple-
tion of my task. I have here quite a v.lum-
inous record of what I have seen and learned
of ‘snake life,” with special reference to “our
common snakes.” I sincerely hope you are not
among the unreasonable despisers of snakes.”

“T am too ardent a lover of Nature to despise
any of God’s creatures. But I have given but
scant attention to the life habits of the serpents,
simply because my time has been almost fully
occupied in other departments of zoological re-
search. JI am anxious indeed, to learn what
that mass of scientific notes contains, to which
you are so attentive.”

“Of course, my Fritz, lam not surprised to
hear you say candidly, that snakes have held
‘no charms for you, ardent naturalist though
you are. The beautiful things of Nature; the
songful birds, the marvelously painted butter-
flies and moths, the charms of fragrant flora,
the wonders of the mineral kingdom, and the
shells of old ocean; these imcomparable deco-
rations of Nature tempt the naturalist to study
their charms and mysteries. But the crawling,
gliding, repulsive things of Nature; the worms
and caterpillars, the snakes and lizards, the

31
toads and frogs, the crawling insects, are so fre-
quently either disregarded by Nature-loving
souls, or despised by the average mortal, that
our knowledge of their life habits is meagre
indeed, yet every intelligent person must admit
that repugnance and prejudice in nowise justify
ignorance of Nature or anything else. We are
the losers when such sentiments prevent our
knowing the characters and purposes of the
obnoxious creatures in Nature’s extensive
realms. Now let me convince you, from these
absolutely reliable notes, largely the results of
my own personal observations, how really in-
teresting and also instructive are the life habits
of our common snakes.

Karly in the Spring my attention was drawn
to my real ignorance of the complete life habits
of even our most common snakes. I at once
gave the subject careful consideration and I was
amazed to learn how few observations I had
made of the life habits of these creatures dur-
ing my years of active work in Nature’s wide
domain. I decided to procure specimens of
different species of our common snakes, and
confine them in comfortable quarters to study
their life habits, Petro built several commod-
ious “snake boxes” and in a short time I se-
cured several individuals of the different spe-
cles, common in our vicinity. Other species
not to be found in our territory I secured in my
“bunts” for specimens of Nature’s wonders.
Sometimes these rambles in search of objects of

32

interest and of study lead me miles from the
hermitage, when several days would elapse be-
fore fortune favored my search and I returned
to Petro. During these prolonged wanderings
in Nature’s wildwoods, o’er rugged hills and
along beautiful water-courses, Pluto was my
sole companion, and many were the occasions
when we slept on the mountain side, in a grassy
meadow, or on a mossy bank beneath a sturdy
oak along some musical brook.

Thus I secured my specimens, and I kept
them in my ophidarium to closely observe their
true natural life habits. So when summer was
well advanced I had a fine collection of indi-
viduals of several different species of our com-
mon snakes, and from daily, careful observa-
tions of my pets, I learned almost the perfect
life habits of these ignored yet highly interest-
ing creatures.

Now, my Fritz; before discussing my valu-
able scientific notes on snake-life, allow me to
present a few introductory facts relative to the
classification, distribution, etc., of snakes in
general. You know that reptiles are members
of that great division of the animal kingdom,
scientifically termed Vertebrates; that is, ani-
mals having a back-bone or spinal column.
Certain characteristics peculiar to snakes con-
fine these creatures to a limited division of the
reptile class termed Ophidians, Again, to more
simplify the proper study of animal life, snakes
are divided into two distinct classes, as, veno-

33
mous or deadly, and non-venomous or harm-
less snakes.

The number of known species of the snake
family is about sixteen hundred. Of this large
variety comparatively few species are to be
found in our temperate climate. In a territory
extending from Canada to Virginia, and from
the Atlantic ocean to the Ohio river, not more
than twenty-five species of the snake family
will reward the diligent search of the student of
snake-life. Snakes seek warmth and shrink
from cold, thus the greatest number of species
are found in tropical climates, where, naturally
enough, the venomous or deadly snakes abound,
and there thousands of human lives are yearly
sacrificed as victims to the deadly powers of
the venomous species.

The form of the snake is easily distinguished
from nearly every other vertebrate animal. It
is an elongated, cylindrical or semi-cylindrical
body, terminating in most cases in a tapering
tail, and destitute of limbs. In size, snakes
vary from the pretty little brown snake of
about a foot in length and as large around as an
ordinary lead pencil, to the great Boa which at
times attains a length of twenty feet, with pro-
portionate size of body. So much for gener-
alities, my Fritz, now let me claim your inter-
ested attention to my “notes,” which I feel
‘assured, will prove both entertaining and in-
structive.

As the snake is destitute of limbs, its progress

34

is entirely dependent on the peculiar arrange-
ments of the back-bone, the ribs and the large
over-lapping scales that cover the under side of
the body. The back-bone is arranged on the
wonderful mechanical principle of the ball-and-
socket joint, thus allowing a freedom of action
that explains the snake’s ability to twist and
turn with lightning swiftness, fearless of injur-
ious consequences. Just examine this spinal
column that I removed from a large black snake,
and you will see the exemplification of the
wonderful ball-and-socket joint in the con-
nection of its numerous vertebre., Now this
same principle exists in the connection of the
numerous ribs to the spinal column or back-
bone, and as these ribs are controlled by strong
muscles you can easily comprehend the snake’s
swift and graceful motions. You will observe
from this skin which I removed from a large
specimen of water snake, that these large scales,
or scutes as they are called, on the underside of
the body over-lap; now just feel how rigid this
lap is. Well, when the snake is in active pro-
gress over the rough surface of its natural habi-
tat, it raises these numerous stift over-lapping
scales against the surface over which it glides,
and, when you consider their conjunction with
the numerous ribs, in some spevimens three
hundred pairs, you can secure a very satis-
factory understanding of locomotion in snakes.
The true explanation of locomotion in snakes
is simply pushing curved portions ot the body

35

against obstructions in their path, and raising
the numerous large over-lapping scales or scutes
on the underside of the body against the rough
surface over which they swiftly glide. ‘“ You
have certainly placed a snake on a smooth sur-
face, as a dish or a polished table, and noted
with amusement how vainly it endeavored to
escape.”

“Yes, my dear Count, I have enjoyed that
experiment, and I noted its futile efforts to
make progress over the smooth surface of its
resting place; then I have removed the subject
and placed it on a carpeted floor, and noticed
how quickly it glided away. Such experiments
convinced me that the large scutes were in some
important manner very necessary aids in snake
locomotion. But what is the explanation of a
snake’s progress in water?”

“In water the snake’s progress is dependent
on pushing curved portions of its graceful body
against the resisting fluid. Snakes never ad-
vance in water by vertical curves, but always
from side to side, or in horizontal curves.”

SENSES OF SNAKES.

The senses of snakes are not acute. But I
am convinced, by the results of careful study
of my pets, that snakes are very sensitive to
motion and to touch. Frequently I have
quietly approached my “snake box,” raised
the lid very gently, and watched my snakes in

36

their natural behavior by the hour, without
detecting any sign from them that my presence
was noted. Again, while studiously observing
my pets, Petro has suddenly approached the
box to speak to me, when, presto, every snake
was all activity either in flight or on the defen-
sive; his sudden appearance had instantly at-
tracted their attention, and alarmed them till
they sought safety in flight, or coiled for fight.

The snake’s eyes are lidless; they are, how-
ever well protected by a thin, transparent skin,
which covers the eye like the crystal of a watch.
This protecting skin comes away with the
“slough” during the act of “shedding.” You
will notice how well the sight is guarded if you
examine this fine specimen of “shed skin” that
I removed from a large black snake.

The sight is deficient. As a rule, objects
must have motion to attract the attention of a
snake, though in some instances the tongue acts
as a reliable guide in distinguishing natural
food from other objects. I have repeatedly
dropped live food in my snake box and I have
carefully noted what followed. I have observed
that if the unfortunate victim remained quiet,
the snakes gave it but indifferent attention,
even gliding over it at times as though really
unaware of its presence But as soon as the
captive moved about, then, alas for it, the
snakes instantly gave chase, and ere long the
poor victim was seized by one, and frequently
by two or more of its relentless pursuers. Now

37

toads and frogs, the natural food of most of
our common snakes seem to possess an instinc-
tive knowledge of the deficiency of sight in
snakes. Many times have I observed a frog or
a toad when pursued by a hungry snake, sud-
denly “squat” with its head pressed close to
the ground, and its body “humped up,” when
the pursuing snake actually glided over the
object of its pursuit, as though ignorant of its
presence. Sometimes the snake has stopped
in its chase beside the suddenly squatted vic-
tim, critically examined it, and then deliber-
ately left the terror stricken creature as though
fully satisfied that the object thus investigated
was not the animated morsel of food which the
snake had so energetically pursued. But as
soon as the victim hopped about it at once at-
tracted the eager attention of the hungry snake
and paid very dearly for its indiscretion.
Again, to illustrate this scientific fact, I have
witnessed, many times, a snake pursue a toad,
which eluded capture, when the snake has
struck another snake that happened to be in its
way and at once resolutely endeavored to gorge
its prize, evidently convinced that it had made
a capture of the victim it pursued; but the
violent struggles of its relative soon impressed
the stupid snake with a realization of its foolish
error.

The snake’s tongue is a very interesting ob-
ject to study, my Fritz. It ig generally sup-
posed to be the “stinger” of the snake; even

4

38

intelligent persons who should possess a fuller
knowledge of snake life than to entertain such
a foolish error, sincerely believe that this ever
active darting organ, the tongue, is the snake’s
deadly “stinger.” Of course you know that
snakes do not possess a sting. They have
teeth and the deadly species have poison fangs
in addition to the teeth; with these they bite,
but never sting.

A snake’s tongue is a thread like muscle pos-
sessing considerable elasticity. It is smooth,
soft and entirely free from the slimy exuda-
tions so common to a snake’s mouth. This
organ lies in the middle of the snake’s lower
jaw and directly beneath a sheath-like fold
near the opening of the trachea or wind-pipe.
About one-third of its full length is secured by
two knotty muscles, one on each side of it and
concealed from view by the trachea. The an-
terior or forward portion is entirely free and
capable of considerable extension. This active
part is generally red in color and black-tipped,
sometimes it is entirely black and it is divided
from the finely pointed tips to about one-third
its full length.

When in action, the snake’s tongue darts
with lightning swiftness between the closed
jaws; when at rest it is withdrawn almost its
full length into the sheath-like fold that holds
it. The functions of the tongue are simply to
feel where the snake is going, to taste, I sin-

39

cerely believe, and principally to terrify the
natural enemies of the serpent family.”

“You doubt then, that the tongue possesses
any power to charm by reason of its terrifying
dartings?”

“Charming by snakes is a myth, a supersti-
tious fallacy, my Fritz. The snake’s tongue
may and doubtless does terrify the ignorant,
but it positively possesses no mesmeric power.
When the snake quietly glides along in its nat-
ural haunts undisturbed, it darts out its tongue,
ever and anon, as though feeling its way. But
when irritated or molested the snake manifests
its fury by a continuous swift darting of this
interesting organ as though it would pierce its
tormentor to death. I believe that it is also a
sensitive taster. The tongue of the snake is
perfectly harmless. It is as soft and pliable as
a silk thread, and it is utterly powerless to suf-
ficiently harden itself to puncture the most del-
icate fabric. This organ is in nowise connected
with the poison apparatus of our deadly
snakes,

HOW SNAKES FEED.

“You have certainly seen a snake enjoy a
meal of frog or toad or other natural food, my
Fritz.”

‘Yes, I have witnessed snakes feeding; but,
on deliberate consideration of the matter, I
have seldom been so favored during my ram-

mn 40
bles as to witness many of the natural life hab-
its of even our commonest species.”

“Very true; and the fact that snakes are so
difficult to study in their natural haunts largely
explains away many of the ridiculous senti-
ments and superstitions relating to the life his-
tory of even our most frequently met species.
Now there is special interest attached to the
feeding of snakes, because these creatures, un-
like most other animals, feed by deglntition or
gorging ; that is, they swallow their food whole
and entire, and positively do not rend and
masticate their prey. All snakes, venomous
and non-venomous species, have their mouth
well provided with teeth. The harmless species
have teeth closely set on the outer edge of each
jaw, and as well, a semi-circular set placed on
the upper jaw on the roof of the mouth.
Snakes teeth are small, sharply pointed and
curved backward towards the throat, thus it is
a difficult matter for our common snake’s prey,
which is generally captured alive and active, to
escape from its captor’s grasp. In addition to
the small, curved teeth common to all snakes,
the venomous species possess poison fangs; in
some species these fangs are set or fixed, but as
a rule they are erectile. These fangs are gener-
ally placed one on each side of the upper jaw.
They are provided with a canal through their
whole length, through which the venom or
death dealing poison is forced from the venom
sac on the back part of the jaw, to the wound

41

inflicted by their bite. But we will discuss the
deadly powers of the venomous snakes at some
future season, at present we will confine our-
selves to the consideration of our common
snakes.

Snakes capture prey much larger round than
their own bodies, so Nature has made a won-
derful provision in the formation and the ar-
rangement of the bones of the head and the
jaws for a marvelous expansion of the jaws and
the throat. The bones of the upper jaw are
but loosely joined by ligaments and the arches
of the palate are movable. The bones of the
lower jaw, where they connect with the skull,
are lengthened out into pedicles. From these
facts, my dear Fritz, you secure a comprehen-
sion of the possibility of snakes gorging the
large objects, that, in the act of deglutition,
pass through their delicate throats. Carefully
exainine this skeleton prepared from one of
my pets and you will then understand how
truly Nature plans the structure of her crea-
tures according to their life habits.

While gorging, or swallowing entire its food,
the snake’s mouth exudes copious secretions of
slimy saliva. This greatly aids in the act of
deglutition or gorging, as it serves as a most
effectual lubricator. After securing its prey,
the snake forces the hopeless struggling victim,
if it be animate food, down into its capacious
guilet by pushing forward first one side of its
upper jaw, then the other side moves forward,

42

then the lower jaw is pushed forward till even
with the upper jaw.”

“Truly, Count, the snake pulls itself over its
food in the act of gorging ?”

“Yes, that is the real explanation of the act
of deglutition in snakes. Now, however a snake
may seize live prey, it generally works toward
either extremity, preferably the anterior part of
its victim’s body before beginning the act of
gorging. You can readily perceive the great
advantage of swallowing its prey head-first, as
it then has far less trouble with the hmbs of its
victim which are thus pressed close to the body
and easily disappear down the snake’s dilatible
throat.

To illustrate the marvelous expansive powers
of the snake’s jaws and throat, and to prove the
ability of the snake to gorge objects much
larger in diameter than its own body, let me
detail a case that came under my critical ob-
servation. I had confined in my snake-box a
medium size water adder that persistently re-
fused the tempting food dropped into the box
for its nourishment. After many days fasting
I finally tempted the adder with the following
results. I secured a big toad, one of the largest
specimens I have ever seen. This I dropped
into the box and quietly sat by to watch devel-
opments. The snake was comfortably coiled
in the water-vessel, with its head gracefully
resting on the edge of the vessel. Soon the
movements of the active toad attracted the

43

snake’s attention. Then the snake glided over
the edge of the water-vessel till its head and a
few inches of the forward part of its body rested
on the ground, the remainder of its body was
coiled in the vessel. In this watchful position
the snake patiently waited, when presently the
unwary toad hopped within reach of its natural
foe, then, quick as thought, the snake seized
the luckless toad and at once at ttempted to drag
its unwieldy burden back with itself, into the
vessel of water. The toad struggled bravely,
but the pointed curved teeth of the determined
snake heid it securely and after some effort on
the part of the snake, the big “hopper” was
soon struggling jor life and liberty in the water.
I felt convinced that the snake could not by
any possible means master such a large victim.
Naturally I was keenly interested in the appar-
ently unequal struggle. The snake was not
over two feet in leagth and its head was not
over one itch in width, while the toad was
fully three inches wide and plump and solid.
The snake seemed confident of its ability to
master its big prey and while keeping it under
water as though intent on drowning it, the ad-
der deliberately proceeded to prepare its big
mea! for gorging. After consuming considera-
ble time in an apparent effort to compress the
toad into as compact a form as possible, the
snake worked towards the toad’s head and
there began the act of gorging.

I considered it an impossibility for such a

44

large object to pass between such small jaws
and through the snake’s delicate neck. Yet the
adder continued the interesting exercise till I
really feared those small jaws would tear asun-
der from the severe strain experienced in
forcing such a large body between them. Lit-
tle by little the toad was drawn in; wider and
still wider the snake’s juws expanded, till after
experiencing some trouble with the toad’s
plump fore-legs, the big meal gradually disap-
peared within the snake’s nearly bursting
throat. After an hour and a half of determined
effort the toad was snugly resting within the
snake’s roomy stomach. So swollen was the
snake at the point where the toad rested as to
be unable to move about, so I carefully raised
the adder from the ground where the struggle
was finished and placed it in a corner of the
box to digest its big meal in undisturbed com-
fort.

After the toad disappeared down into the
snake’s gullet, the jaws regained their normal
condition and appearance, and except for the
large lump midway in the snake’s body no one
could hardly credit the fact that but a short
time had elapsed since those delicate jaws ap-
peared as if they must fly apart from the ap-
parently unnatural strain they experienced.
Witnessing the whole interesting event I was
both surprised and impressed. That hearty
meal sufficed the adder for two weeks.

The snake’s food passes through the throat,

45

and it is then forced into the stomach by a
strong contraction of the ribs immediately in
front of the object swallowed. As the ribs are
not joined to a sternum or breast-bone, but
have a freedom of action, the body also pos-
sesses a wonderful power of expansion, thus
easily accommodating the large objects gorged
by the snake. The digestive fluids of a snake’s
stomach are indeed chemically powerful. As
the snake gorges its food, the stomach receives
it in an almost natural condition, sometimes
even alive and active; frequently I have no-
ticed a spasmodic movement, or heard a
mournful croak from a toad or frog but lately
swallowed. Now, with the food in this nearly
normal condition, digestion begins and flesh,
bones, skin, fins and feathers, whatever the
character of the food may be, must be assim-
ilated. That the digestion of these seemingly
indigestible substances is almost perfect, is
proved beyond doubt, in the fact that seldom
do the snake’s excrements show any trace or
vestige of what has been swallowed.

“Do snakes ever over-estimate their powers
and seize prey too large for them to master? ”

“ Frequently, my Fritz; snakes seem to ex-
ercise no judgment in seizing their prey. Often
have I noticed my pets seize and tenaciously
hold prey so large as to be far beyond the
snake’s ability to gorge it and after being pulled
about by the struggling captive, the snake has
been compelled to reluctantly free the intended

46

victim. A hearty meal will nourish a snake
for many days, yet when conditions make it
necessary a snake will fast for several weeks
and still be active.

Snakes drink water readily. I have many
times observed individuals of my numerous
pets gracefully glide over the edge of the water-
vessel, immerse about one-half of the head in
the water and drink till satisfied. When drink-
ing, the jaws move slightly from side to side,
while the swallowing of the fiuid can be easily
traced by the action of the throat.”

“Do snakes always demand living food to
satisfy their appetite? ”

“Asarule they do. Some species of snakes
subsist entirely on eggs; but the greatest pro-
portion of the snake family subsist on live
prey. Occasionally I have tempted my pets to
seize and gorge dead food; but in such cases
the victims were but lately killed and being
fresh and palatable the snake’s dull senses were
sufficiently deceived to warrant the snake in
gorging its truly unnatural meal. Of course
you know that venomous snakes usually kill
their prey before attempting to gorge it; and
large snakes of the boa family crush their prey
to death and then prepare it for gorging.
These facts are due to the truth that the natural
food of such species of snakes consists of ani-
mals sufficiently large and strong as to give the
snake a serious struggle if it attempted to gorge
its fierce victim while in the full possession of

47

the frequently formidable means of defense of
such prey. Now the natural food of our com-
mon snakes is generally weak and unable to
seriously injure the snake during a life struggle,
so it soon succumbs to the snake’s superior
strength and it can thus be easily gorged even
when live and active.

“ Have you noticed whether snakes interfere
with each other when feeding, or does the law
of possession protect the fortunate snake against
the attempts of relatives to contest its posses-
sion?”

“The law of the ‘survival of the fittest’ pre-
vails ameng snakes as elsewhere, my Fritz.
Frequently I have observed several snakes per-

sistently contest the possession of a hopeless
Gu or frog. It is a common occurrence
among snakes in confinement, for two individ-
uals to seize a toad or frog at opposite extremi-
ties and fiercely and determinedly struggle for
the possession of the luckless victim. Such
struggles at times continue till one snake not
alone swallows the contested meal, but as well,
a large portion of its determined contestant.
Here you see in this jar a garter snake and a
water adder, each about two feet in length.
Now neither of these species feed on snakes,
yet you will perceive that about six inches of
the forward part of the garter snake is down
the water snake’s gullet. How much more of
the garter snake’s body would have disappeared
if I had not interrupted the interesting event

48

T am unable to state, for fearing I might lose a
good cabinet specimen by waiting too long
a time, when they would be sure to separate, I
prepared them for keeping in this condition.”

“You really do not mean that after swallow-
ing a portion of its unfortunate contestant for
the meal, the water snake would free its cap-
tive and the two would separate without injury
to either ?”

“Yes, I mean exactly what I stated. I have
observed two baby garter snakes fiercely con-
test the possession of a wee baby toad that they
had both seized at opposite extremities, when
one succeeded in securing all of the toad and
besides swallowed all but an inch of the strug-
gling relative. Then when disturbed by my
handling them, each hastily wriggled free from
the unnatural embrace and neither showed any
injury whatever from their strange experience.
Of course the successful contestant retained the
toad.”

“Well, well, my dear Count that is indeed
an interesting insight into the life habits of
these strange creatures,”

SHEDDING THE SKIN.

“A highly interesting feature in the life hab-
its of our common snakes is the act of shedding
the skin or ‘slough.’ When the growth of the
snake, which by the way, is quite rapid in
baby snakes, causes the epidermis to become

49

uncomfortably tight, Nature provides a new
epidermis and enables the snake to cast or
‘shed’ its old skin. Previous to this expe-
rience the snake appears to be ‘stone blind,’
because the protecting skin over the eyes be-
comes loose and dead, giving to those organs a
bluish white appearance as though the sight
was entirely lost. At this time the snake seeks
seclusion, seeming to realize the fact that it
moves about at a serious disadvantage and risk
while its sight is covered by the loose, opaque
skin. Thus, being unable to distinguish clearly
objects about it the snake patiently awaits the
gradual loosening of its entire epidermis in
some quiet shelter. In young snakes but a
short time elapses during the whole process of
‘shedding,’ while in adults a week or two
passes during the preparation and execution of
this change. While awaiting this peculiar ex-
perience in a snake’s life the subject feeds but
little, evidently realizing its handicapped con-
dition, and safely sheltered in some safe retreat,
it seldom ventures forth till able to ‘cast’ its
old skin and appear in a new dregs, bright and
attractive and in full enjoyment again of all
its faculties.

When the skin is ready to be ‘cast’ it parts
about the jaws first and can then be easily
pushed off the body. The snake now leaves its
seclusion and by pushing its way among weeds,
vines and other obstructions in its path, it soon
frees itself from its cumbersome old skin, turn-

50

ing the ‘slouzh’ inside out in the operation,
and appears bright, active and hungry in a new
dress.

Often, when aware that my pets were ready
to shed their old skins, I have taken one in
my hands and carefully freeing the skin about
the jaws, I have firmly held the loosened por-
tion, when the snake has gradually worked it-
self out of the old skin, as you would remove a
tightly fitting kid glove, leaving in my hands a
perfect cast ‘slough.’ ”

‘During the act of shedding, does the snake
quickly glide out of its loose skin?”

“No, my Fritz; the process of ‘casting’ a
‘slough’ is attended with considerable deliber-
ate exertion on the part of the snake and fre-
quently consumes hours, but when receiving
unnatural assistance but a few minutes elapses
during the act. After the skin is freed about
the head, the snake in its natural haunts,
slowly forces its way among the grass or weeds,
or rubs against hard substances and these grad-
ually push the skin back over the snake’s body,
while the snake contracts its body immediately
in front of the free part of the skin; and thus,
by rubbing and contracting, the skin is slowly
pushed off, When assistance is rendered of
course the snake has only to contract and ad-
vance and in a short time is entirely free from
its uncomfortable vesture. Sometimes when
shedding its skin there will be a ‘green’ spot
in the ‘slough’ and this will so tightly adhere

51

to the body, that after the loosened portion of
the skin is shed, this patch will remain and
several days wiil pass before it is sufficiently
dry and loose to be ‘ cast.’

These shed skins or ‘sloughs’ are always a
yellowish white color and very seldom show
any markings, however attractively the snake
may be marked. Yet the scale arrangement is
so true that an advanced student of snake life
can easily distinguish the species to which the
‘slough’ belongs. It is a common occurrence
for snakes to lie in water when about to
‘cast’ their skins, and the ‘slough’ then be-
comes softened by the soaking it receives, when
it can be easily discarded.”

“ How often do snakes ‘cast’ their skins?
You know it is generally accepted as a scientific
fact that adult snakes ‘shed’ about twice a
year. Now how do your observations along
this line agree with this prevailing opinion ? ”

“Well, you will of course appreciate the fact
that animals in confinement differ somewhat
in behavior from their relatives in the natural
wild state of the species. Now, naturally
enough, young, growing snakes ‘shed’ fre-
quently, but large adult specimens must be well
fed indeed to ‘cast’ their ‘slough’ more than
two or three times during the period of activity
of our common snakes in their natural haunts.
In the early spring, after awaking from its pro-
longed winter’s sleep, the snake ‘casts’ its skin
soon after becoming fully interested in its sur-

52

roundings. Then later in the season when
food is comparatively plentiful another ‘ slough’
is shed, and towards the close of the warm
term still another one may be ‘cast’ even by
large full grown specimens. In captivity,
where plentiful supplies of natural food are at
hand to be enjoyed without the exertion nec-
essary to secure prey in a wild state, I have
known very large specimens of black snakes,
water adders and garter snakes to ‘cast’ four
or even five ‘sloughs’ in a geason.”

“Why is it true that in my numerous ram-
bles over Nature’s expanses of field and forest,
meadow and marsh and along the banks of
streams, I seldom find a perfect ‘shed’ snake
skin ? ”

“Tt is true, my Fritz, that rarely indeed, will
even an observant rambler secure a perfect
‘slough’ in his walks abroad. This is ex-
plained by the fact that a snake while casting
its “slough ’ and pushing its way through rank
vegetable growths to aid in the process, almost
invariably tears the skin and leaves portions of
it here and there as torn off by the grass or
weeds. Allow me to show you my collection
of ‘shed’ snake skins, all of which are perfect
because my careful assistance during the pro-
cess of ‘shedding’ prevented the usual severe
treatment the skins receive when ‘cast’ in a
natural manner. Here, you see, I have a fine
assortment ranging from a foot to nearly seven
feet in length. This fine large one, which ig

53

about as broad as your hand and nearly seven
feet in length was ‘cast,’ with my assistance,
by a large specimen of Pine snake that I had
among my pets. The others are from black
snakes four and five feet in length, and other
species of our harmless snakes. These small
ones are from the little burrowing snakes that
attain a length of less than a foot. You will
notice these are as soft as silk. When ‘ cast,’
snake skins are soft and pliable, but when
dried you will notice they generally become
hard and brittle, especially large specimens.

A snake in its new dress, after casting its
‘slough,’ is as smooth as china, and it is en-
tirely free from the ‘sliminess’ that prevailing
ignorance of snake life persistently attributes to
these despised creatures. Eels are slimy;
snakes are as dry, and in some species as silky
in texture, as ivory.”

MODES OF DEFENSE.

** We will next consider the means of defense
possessed and exercised by our common
snakes. Hscape is the first impulse of our
common snake, when suddenly surprised in its
natural haunts. Seldom, if ever, does an in-
nocuous snake seek combat with man or beast,
but when escape is seemingly impossible and
the natural instinct of self- preservation inspires
defense, then even very small specimens of our
harmless snakes manifest a strong dispasitien

~
o

54

to fight. The threatening appearance of a
snake on the defensive generally suffices to ar-
rest an attack till the snake is able to glide into
some convenient shelter. Bear in mind this
fact, my dear Fritz, that but comparatively few
persons are willing to attack a snake that sud-
denly appears in their way, unless sticks or
stones are at hand, and you will readily under-
stand why snakes do not really require danger-
ous defensive powers. You know a bad repu-
tation is frequently as effectual in guarding one
from assault as a coat of armor.

When suddenly surprised and unable to es-
cape attack, our common snake immediately
assumes a defensive attitude, and if tormented
will unhesitatingly dart the forward part of its
lithe body at its tormentor and endeavor to
fasten its small sharp teeth in the person of its
enemy. large specimens of our common
snakes, such as attain a length of several feet,
are capable of inflicting quite a severe wound,
causing blood to flow. In such cases, persons
wounded by asnake’s bite, naturally experience
some alarm lest the wound should prove to be
a very serious matter. I have been frequently
bitten by large non-venomous snakes, when the
blood has freely flowed from every puncture of
the needle like teeth, yet I have never suffered
any serious effects from such attacks. The
wound usually appeared like a severe pin
scratch and was really less painful than a pin
scratch generally proves to be.

55

To attack its tormentor, the snake draws back
its head and several inches of the forward part
of its body in a graceful curve, and then, with
mouth wide open it darts this erect portion of
its body with lightning like swiftness at the ob-
ject of its assault, immediately regaining its de-
fensive attitude if the blow falls short of its
mark. Except in quite small specimens, the
body never wholly leaves the ground during
the fierce attacks of the irritated snake.”

“ Do you really mean to state as a scientific
fact that the body of a snake does not wholly
leave the ground during its vicious assaults,
when the enraged snake attempts to fasten its
teeth in the person of its tormentor ? ”

“‘ Most assuredly I do, my Fritz, never except
in small, vicious specimens of our most savage
species, is more than half of the body clear of
the ground during its fierce attacks. Thus
statements declaiing that snakes spring bodily
at their enemy is positively without foundation
in facts.”

The safest method of securing a specimen
of our common snakes, except large black
snakes, is to hold the subject firmly to the
ground in such a manner as to allow you to
seize it immediately back of the jaws; then it
cannot bite and you are master of the situation.
When capturing large black snakes, which not
only bite severely but as well exercise the
power to squeeze peculiar to this species, seize
your captive back of the jaws with one hand

56

and about midway of the body with the other,
thus preventing it from biting or using its pow-
ers of constriction. The common snakes that
are not over a foot in length when full grown,
do not attempt to bite and can be handled with
impunity, fearless of injury.

Though a wound of any character is to be
avoided, yet the bite of one of our common
snakes is really insignificant, as there is no se-
cretion of venom in the jaws of our innocuous
snakes. However, as it is not at all impossible
to handle our harmless species of snakes with-
out fear of their bites, it is still unwise to be
careless in securing specimens. You know, my
Fritz, that some persons are very susceptible to
poisonous influences. What would be but a
mere scratch to one individual might prove a
serious wound to another, whose physical con-
dition was exceedingly sensitive to the slightest
presence of poison associated with a bite in-
flicted by even a non-venomous snake. To il-
lustrate my point, I may carelessly capture a
large specimen of harmless snake, irritate it
and receive a severe bite from the sharp teeth
of my prize. Now suppose the snake thus
captured had but lately enjoyed a hearty meal
of natural prey, and as a natural and very
reasonable proposition, the saliva of the snake
and the blood of its victim freely flowing
while the snake was gorging its meal were
dried and decomposed about the teeth of the
snake at the time it inflicted the wound. If

57

my physical condition was keenly sensitive to
poisonous influences when I received the bite,
would it be a cause for surprise if the wound
from a bite under such circumstances should
prove a serious matter? I think not, and I
am strongly convinced that many so-called
deadly snake-bites are nothing more than
wounds inflicted by a harmless snake at a time
when the teeth of the snake were in this poi-
soned state, and the physical condition of the
person bitten was most susceptible to the slight-
est presence of poison associated with the bite.

Some persons are sadly afflicted by the mere
presence of poison-ivy, while others may heed-
lessly and without serious results move about
in its poisonous midst. Now, this is simply a
matter of susceptibility to poisonous influences.
So it is with the bite of a harmless or innocu-
ous snake. Though generally insignificant,
yet under certain conditions in the snake and
also in the victim of the snake’s bite, a wound
inflicted under these circumstances has proved
a very serious affair.”

“There is certainly considerable food for
thought in your propositions, my dear Count.
I have given but a superficial attention to the
life habits of snakes and I must therefore ac-
knowledge a woful ignorance of the interesting
characteristics of these too generally despised
creatures. But I can easily comprehend from
your lucid statements, how a truly and svien-
tifically innocuous snake can become, under

58

certain unusual yet possible conditions, a veri-
table deadly serpent.”

“Yes, there is no doubt that the really ven-
omous snakes bear the burden of reproach for
bites of a serious nature inflicted by innocuous
snakes. But to return to the consideration of
modes of defense of our common harmless spe-
cies. The large over-lapping scales on the un-
der-side of a snake, or ‘scutes’ as they are
called, frequently serve as a most effectual
means of defense when the snake is so fortunate
as to glide into a convenient hole beneath a
stump of tree or in a bank or wall. Often have
I seized a snake by the tail as it was disappear-
ing in shelter beneath a rock or a stump of old
tree, and I have been compelled to reluctantly
allow it to escape or dismember it. So strongly
has it resisted my efforts to drag it from its
shelter, by the firm hold its scutes secured on
the rough surface of its retreat, that the stretch-
ing of the body warned me to release it, or it
would part and leave only its tail in my hand.
Now if you will pass your finger over the sur-
face of the underside of this specimen, and
from tail to head, thus, you will receive an in-
telligent idea of how firmly a snake can hold
on to the rough surface over which it glides.
When this ‘lap’ is raised in this manner, then
you get a satisfactory conception of how im-
portant these numerous strong scales, in con-
junction with the many pairs of loose ribs, be-
come as means of both locomotion and de-
fense.”

59

“Truly, the innocuous snakes possess but in-
ferior means of defense against the destroying
hand of man, their chiefest foe. In my opinion
the universal sentiments of detestation and fear
with which these creatures are regarded con-
stitute their best protection from injury at the
hand of man.”

“You speak truly, my Fritz. Though ‘cursed
above all cattle, and above every beast of the
field’ is the still existing reproach under which
the serpent lies, yet but few persons seek an
encounter with a snake, while the great mass of
humanity is content ‘to pass by on the other
side’ when a specimen of this much feared as
well as universally despised creature is met.
The fierce and threatening dartings of the
tongue of an infuriated snake serve as a very
effectual means of defense.”

HOW SNAKES BREED.

“In my pursuit of snake-lore I have been
peculiarly fortunate in my observations of the
breeding habits of our common snakes. I am
surprised to find such a serious dearth of relia-
ble information on this subject so evident in
the great mass of scientific literature that pro-
fesses to record the life habits of serpents.
Thus, you can appreciate my feelings of satis-
faction, inspired by the pleasing and instruc-
tive observations I have been able to make

60

along this important line of strictly scientific
investigation.

The propagation of snakes is especially in-
teresting from the fact that it is generally con-
ceded by scientific authorities on this subject
that snakes are oviparous, viviparous, or ovi-
viviparous. More simply speaking some spe-
cies lay eggs, other species give birth and still
other species either lay eggs or give birth, ac-
cording as conditions are favorable to either
mode of generation. Now it is not my purpose
to discuss the scientific verity of this generally
accepted belief, but to simply present in as
lucid manner as possible the results of my per-
sonal observations on this subject.

Karly in the spring, soon after awaking from
its prolonged nap, the adult snake seeks a
mate. I have been favored on several occa-
sions with an opportunity to note this interest-
ing feature in the life-habits of our common
snakes, but I am unable to present the strictly
scientific discussion of this subject in a popular
work of this character.

In the oviparous snakes the period of gesta-
tion is about ten weeks, when the female seeks
a suitable place in which to lay her eggs.
These are laid in a slight excavation a few
inches deep in the soft earth where they are left
to be hatched by the moist heat of their resting
place. Beneath old stumps of trees, in an open
field, or along the edge of a wooded district
bordering an open field, these snake eggs are to

61

be found. Frequently these eggs are plowed
up by the husbandman, who conscientiously
believes he is doing society a great service by
destroying all he finds But he commits a
serious error to his own immediate injury, as
snakes feed on field-mice, moles and insects
hurtful to the farmer’s products.

The eggs of our common oviparous snakes
are a yellowish white in color and vary from
1x4 inch, to the size of a pigeon’s egg. In
form they are either irregularly elliptical or
cylindrical. When cylindrical in form they
have flat ends and several of them are con-
nected by a thin thread-like skin about a half
inch in length between each egg. The shell is
a tough leathery skin, sometimes covered with
small hard pimples. The number of eggs laid
at one time varies with the species. My pets
have laid from a dozen to as high as twenty-
two eggs at one time.”

“You are inclined to be skeptical in your ac-
ceptance of reports that individuals of our com-
mon snakes have been found with thirty or
forty eggs?”

“Such cases may occur, my Fritz. But in
treating of the life habits of our snakes I speak
of the rule and not of the rare exception. As
there are strange and unusual births among
the higher forms of animal life, so there may
be ‘ freaks’ of Nature found in reptile life. I
speak of what I know from my own personal
observations. So follow me closely as I give

62

you the results of my careful observations re-
lating to generation in snakes,

~ One of my large black snakes, whose mating
conduct I had witnessed with keen interest in
the early spring, laid twenty-two eggs. This
event occurred July 5 The eggs were depos-
ited one at a time, with apparent effort on the
part of the snake. Some of them were 14x}
inches in size and elliptical in form. Others
were #x}# inches in size, cylindrical in form
with flat ends, and several of these were con-
nected at the ends by a thin, thread-like skin,
about a half inch in length. Cutting through
the tough skin of an egg I found the contents
to be similar to the ‘white’ of a hen’s egg.
Leaving the eggs where the snake deposited
them for a period of about three weeks I again
opened one. On cutting through the tough
skin at this time, a small quantity of albumen
fell out; next I observed a ball of fatty tissue
which occupied nearly the whole space in the
shell. Opening this yoke I found the baby
snake coiled in its center. Carefully removing
the little snake I ascertained that its length was
seven inches; its body was almost transparent,
its eyes were very prominent and the scale ar-
rangement was beautifully distinct. The color
of the baby snake was grayish-white, with dark
markings. Although I noticed a slight pulsa-
tion of the heart, showing life, yet the snake
died when removed from the egg, because im-
maturely developed.

63

Now follow me closely, my Fritz. In the
fore-part of August a garter snake, that mated
in April, gave birth to sixteen active baby
snakes. During the delivery of these interest-
ing little creatures, the parent snake laid in an
irregularly curved position with her body
pressed close to the ground. The birth of each
little snake required such muscular exertion as
to plainly show the snake’s numerous ribs dur-
ing the muscular contraction required to de-
liver the little thing. At birth the baby snake
was coiled in a mucous envelope and as soon
as delivered it vainly attempted to free itself
from this mucous covering, but so elastic was
it as to defy the puny efforts of the little pris-
oner. After a few minutes this elastic, mucous
covering dried, when the baby snake easily
parted its bonds, gaped several times as though
really testing the expansive powers of its dilat-
ible jaws and then started in active search for
nourishment. The length of the baby snake
was about six inches, and the body was slight
and graceful in form, with markings much
lighter and more delicate than on the parent
snake. Here you have an intelligent idea of
the peculiar features in the propagation of the
young of the oviparous and the viviparous spe-
cies of our common snakes.

Now to prove to your satisfaction that snakes
may possibly be only oviparous, let me give
you the results of my careful observations that
must assuredly arouse doubts in a thoughtful

64

mind relative to the scientific reliability of vi-
viparous snakes. I had a fine specimen of full
grown garter snake that I daily expected would
give birth to a family of little ones. Well, one
day one of my large black snakes attacked the
garter snake, and before I could prevent it
deliberately began to gorge its big victim. I
rescued the garter snake but not before it had
received such injuries as to cause a premature
delivery of about a dozen little dead snakes.
Nearly all of these little snakes were delivered
with a mass of fatty tissue enveloped in a
mucous covering. Again, a large water adder
that had been caught and severely injured on a
fish-hook was presented to me, to all appear-
ances dead. Well, I revived it, and in a short
time it also gave premature birth to several lit-
tle snakes, all dead and accompanied with the
mass of fatty tissue as in the previous case.
Again, late in October one of my water adders
gave birth to about a dozen active little snakes,
and in addition to them expelled several egg-
shaped masses of fatty tissue. Now, does not
the appearance of the baby snake prematurely
delivered with its accompaniment of fatty tis-
sue, and the appearance of the baby snake in
its fatty tissue within the egg, prove a strong
argument in support of the proposition that
snakes are oviparous, but some species hatch
the eggs in their own body, while others de-
posit the eggs in conditions favorable to their
full development by the influence of solar
heat ? ”’

65

“ Certainly, my dear Count, your critical ob-
servations and your very plausible proposition
must accomplish much toward disposing of the
generally accepted belief that snakes are both
oviparous and viviparous. I shall hereafter
feel fully convinced in my mind that snakes
are only oviparous in their generative habits.”

“ Well, my Fritz, nearly all scientific beliefs
are open to contradiction through the results of
careful observations of critical investigators, and
it is only by the honest efforts of such careful
observers that science becomes a reliable source
of truth.”

“ Ag a rule snakes pay but indifferent atten-
tion to their offspring. I have never witnessed
an instance when the parent snake manifested
any concern for the young she had brought in-
to existence. Yet it is a well authenticated fact
that the parent will temporarily swallow its
young to protect them from threatening dan-

er.”

“Ts there any positively reliable external
marks or peculiarities by which the sex of our
common snakes ean be distingnished ?”

“No. Though I have frequently witnessed
the mating habits of my pets, yet even after
the most critical examination I have utterly
failed to secure any distinguishing features that
would at once give the sex of a specimen se-
cured in its natural haunts. The female is
generally larger than her mate, but this is a
most unsatisfactory proof of sex, as I have seen

66

males over eighteen inches in length mate
with large, full grown females three feet in
length. Again, I have seen females of this
same species not over twenty inches in length
give birth to sixteen baby snakes, all well and
active. In species that are prominently marked
and colored there may exist a slight difference
in appearance that will positively distinguish
sex, but I am not yet able to lay down any law
that can be assuredly relied on to distinguish
sex by any external appearances of our com-
mon snakes found singly in their native wilds.
Dissection is the only positive proof of sex.”

HIBERNATION.

“ Another interesting feature in the life-hab-
its of the ophidians is hibernation. Frequently
this question is asked, ‘ What becomes of the
snakes during winter?’ Of course you know
that all reptiles hibernate during the cold sea-
son. The period of activity of snakes in our
temperate climate is about seven months.
Naturally enough this term is largely depen-
dent on the character of our winters. If we ex-
perience an ‘open winter,’ snakes remain
abroad later than when a severe frigid season
prevails. As a rule the ‘cold snaps’ in Au-
tumn drive all our snakes into winter quarters.
Occasionally during the ‘warm spells’ in the
beautiful season of Indian summer, individuals
may be met enjoying a quiet ‘siesta’ beneath

67

the sun’s warm rays, protected from the chilly
north winds; but as a rule snakes ‘turn in’
for a prolonged sleep with the first real evi-
dences of winter’s advent. Now this long term
of slumber is called hibernation, a period of
absolute inactivity in a state of torpidity, insen-
sible to the pangs of hunger and the chilling
frosts of winter’s inclemency. This condition
of insensibility is a happy provision of Nature
especially beneficial to such ‘cold blooded,’ ani-
mals as reptiles.

The natural food of snakes is almost entirely
lacking during the freezing cold of winter, so
to lie dormant during this season of serious
scarcity of sustenance is certainly an agreeable
way to escape starvation. Frogs, toads, and
other batrachians subsist largely on insects,
and our common snakes depend for their sus-
tenance on frogs, toads, small mammals, birds
and insects, nearly all of which disappear with
the arrival of the first chilling frosts of winter.
Thus deprived of their natural food the snakes
are compelled during this season of ‘short
rations’ to lie torpid or to starve. Nature has
endowed these creatures with an instinct that
leads them to hibernate during the season of
limited food supplies, and thus pass weeks in a
state of absolute freedom from gnawing appetite.

Another cause for hibernation among the
ophidians is found in the fact that due to an
imperfect aeration of the blood from a defective
circulation of the vital fluid, the snake would

68

soon freeze to death if it attempted to pass
through winter exposed to the deadly rigors of
this season. So snakes hibernate to escape
death by freezing.”

“Is hibernation a strict necessity? Cannot a
snake under favorable conditions live through
winter and neither starve nor freeze?”

“Hibernation is not a rigid law of Nature.
Domestication removes the causes for seeking
escape from death by starvation or freezing, and
a snake may remain both active and healthy
during the long term of frigid weather with
comparatively little food. I have kept speci-
mens during winter, housed in comfortable
quarters, with absolutely no food, and in the
early Spring they were active and healthy, some
of them even shedding their skins; frequently
during their protracted fast they were quite
active.

I am not aware that snakes hold any prefer-
ance for special places in which to hibernate.
So long as they can find shelter from the freez-
ing cold of winter, they seem indifferent to
special localities, I have noticed that the places
selected in which to hibernate are generally
sheltered from the piercing north winds. The
snake evidently possesses an instinct that leads
it to seek its place to hibernate out of the reach
of killing frosts. During this hibernal torpidity
the snake succumbs to sudden severe changes
in the temperature.

I have surprised snakes just awakend from

69

their prolonged slumbers in various situations
and conditions. I have caught them in early
spring basking in the sun’s warm rays on
leaves and flat stones on the south side of a
sunny bank. I have secured them beneath de-
cayed vegetation along meadow streams, snugly
sheltered from winter’s cold blasts among the
aquatic plants peculiar to such localities. I
have unearthed a colony of different species, so
twined and tangled together as to make it a
difficult task to distinguish individuals. After
a few warm days in early spring an observant
rambler will notice numerous round holes in the
soft mold of meadow-land, and in the banks
of high ground facing the south, all unmistak-
able evidences of the places of hibernation
used by our common snakes.

During this lethargic state of hibernation,
respiration and circulation in the snake are al-
most entirely suspended. When brought into
association with a moderate rise in temperature
the hibernating snake soon regains activity.”

DO SNAKES CHARM ?

“Now, my dear Count, there is a much de-
bated question, relative to the peculiar powers
of snakes, that I wish to ask you: Do snakes
charm ?”

“That simple question has been asked time
and again during decades of scientific research,
and it still remains a controverted point. It is

6

70

my houest conviction that the question is in-
correctly worded; careful observations of the
life habits of our common snakes, confirms my
opinion that the ophidians possess no mesmeric
power, which, when exercised, places the vic-
tim in easy reach of the expectant snake;
rather the inherent dread of snakes universally
entertained by man and the higher orders of
brutes, so affects some individuals, possessing
a highly nervous temperament as to make them
powerless to flee or fight when suddenly en-
countering a snake in their path.

The great majority of the human family,
learned and illiterate, accept with little or abso-
lutely no hesitation or doubt a prevalent belief
that snakes are endowed with certain mesmeric
powers, through the exercise of which they
stupify or paralyze their prey and thus are
enabled to make an easy capture, The most
absurd and unreasonable instances of ‘snake
charming’ are readily accepted and cherished,
and frequently grossly exaggerated as evidences
of the terrifying potency of the snake’s power
over man and beast, Careful investigation of
these ‘authentic cases’ results in the fact that
the victim was paralyzed with fear, rather than
made powerless by the exercise of any mes-
meric influence exerted by the snake. Now, in
nearly every human mind a strong sentiment
of repugnance, and in some cases an actual
horror of snakes in general finds lodgment.
Strong men, as well as delicate, sensitive women

71

turn pale and are subjected to intense mental
perturbation when even small specimens of the
snake family come in contact with their person.
Herein lies the whole secret of the prevailing
erroneous belief that ‘snakes do charm.’ So
we conclude it must be accepted as a scientific
verity that the power to ‘charm,’ so generally
granted to the snake, does not exist ; but rather,
animate Nature, in its highest and most sensi-
tive forms, entertains such strong feelings of
fear and repulsion towards the snake as to fre-
quently suffer temporary paralysis of their
powers when suddenly meeting a terror-inspir-
ing snake.”

“ Your intelligent consideration of this much
mooted question, certainly goes far toward dis-
sipating the general belief that ‘snakes do
charm.’ I remember distinctly an instance in
my own family, when a highly sensitive young
lady relative was so overpowered by fear on
suddenly meeting a large bleck snake ready for
fight, that assistance was necessary to remove
her from the spot, when she fainted and after-
wards became seriously hysterical. For weeks
after her terrifying experience she was visibly
affected when the event was mentioned. Now
my dear Count, I have long entertained an
honest conviction that but for the timely ar-
rival of aid, so intense was her terror as to have
resulted in dementia or even death, especially
would her terrible experience have resulted
fatally if the snake in its assaults had fastened

72

its teeth in her garments; and thus have become
attached to her person. But I have never
doubted that her serious condition was caused
by fright and horror and in no degree inspired
by any subtle power ‘to charm,’ exercised by
the snake.”

“You are certainly correct in your conclu-
sions, my Fritz. The snake would have been
but a passive factor in any fatal results follow-
ing the young lady’s experience, for terror only
was the cause of her serious condition.”

CHaprter ITI.
OUR COMMON SNAKES.

THE GARTER SNAKES.

“The garter snake is beyond doubt the ‘com-
mon snake’ of the eastern and middle states of
our union. It is surprising, my Fritz, to no-
tice the readiness with which so many, even
intelligent persons, call nearly all snakes which
may cross their path during a quiet walk
abroad with Nature, ‘garter snakes.’ Yet, as
you have doubtless frequently noticed, this
species is so strongly marked as to allow no
excuse for confusing it with other species of
our common snakes.

The garter snake is readily distinguished
from other species of our common snakes by
the presence of a prominent dorsal stripe, that
runs along the back from head to tail. This
stripe is usually yellowish in color and very
distinct. Besides this dorsal stripe there is al-
ways present along each side and running par-
allel with the dorsal stripe a duller, yet easily
distinguished lateral stripe. These three stripes
are always present on the garter snakes, and
thus they comprise a positive proof of the spe-
cies to which the individual belongs that pos-
sesses the stripes.

74

In the eastern territory of our country We
find but two distinct species of garter snakes.
One of these is very variable, with two strongly
marked varieties. This species is the common
garter snake frequently called the ‘striped
snake.’

The common garter snake or striped snake
has a stout body and attains a length of three
feet when full grown. Its general color is dull
greenish above, light greenish below and along
the sides. The dorsal stripe is narrow but
prominent, the lateral stripes are much broader
but duller than the dorsal stripe. Rows of
dark spots along the sides between the stripes ;
these are not prominent in this species—Ku-
tania-sirtalis. No marks or spots on under
side, yet there are always present on the outer
edges of each scute or large overlapping scale
on the under side, a row of small semi-circular
dots. The tail is about one-fifth the total
length of the body and it tapers to a fine point.
So variable in coloration is this species that I
have found specimens from light pea-green to
almost black in color, yet because of the ever-
present stripes I never hesitated to immediately
distinguish the individuals as members of the
garter snake family.

The varieties of this species are the ordinata
which is grayish or brownish green with dull
stripes but very prominent spots, generally
about eighty-five in number. The dorsalis
which has a broad dorsal stripe and a row of

75

distinct spots above the lateral stripes ; and the
obscura which is dusky gray or brown in color,
with a faint dorsal stripe, while the lateral
stripes merge into the color of the under parts.
This is the least attractive of the garter snakes.

The common garter snake is active in its
habits, rather irritable in temper, readily de-
fending itself against attack, yet in confinement
I have found it to be an interesting and tracta-
ble pet.

The ribbon snake, or swift garter snake is a
really pretty and exceedingly graceful little
creature. It is slender in form, and grows to a
length of about three feet. The tail is about
one-third the full length of the body and grace-
fully tapers to a fine point. The general color
of this species (EKutania-saurita) is bright chest-
nut brown above, greenish below, with bright
yellowish stripes. Below the lateral stripes the
color is a clear light brown. No spots.

This snake is exceedingly swift in its move-
ments. Frequently when I have attempted to
catch a specimen in its natural wilds, so quick
has been its movements to elude capture as to
‘really appear as if it literally sprang clear of the
ground. It seldom attempts to bite and makes
a pleasing pet.

The garter snakes are ustally found in the
vicinity of streams, where frogs and toads
abound. Their food consists of frogs and toads
mainly, yet I have witnessed my pets greedily
seize and devour earth worms and also small
fish.

76

About the first week in August the female
seeks a suitable place to bring forth her young,
usually sixteen in number.

Of course you will understand, that my
statements relative to the life-habits of snakes,
as I have observed them, apply to the general
rule; but I have also witnessed rare and ex-
ceptional cases in the different habits of my
pets. Now, though garter snakes generally
bring forth their young in the early part of
August and the number to a birth seldom ex-
ceeds eighteen, yet I have witnessed peculiar
cases of birth as late in the season as the mid-
dle of October, and one of my large female
garter snakes had a peculiar and strangely un-
usual experience of double birth that is worthy
of record. Early in my spring rambles I cap-
tured a large specimen of garter snake. I put
this in my ‘snake box’ and after a few days
witnessed it mating with a smaller garter snake.
About the middle of the following August, as I
fully expected it to do, it gave birth to sixteen
active baby snakes. After this experience I
was much interested in it because of its abnor-
mally large size. Day after day it seemed to
grow till it was exceptionally large and round,
and as I did not notice any unusually greedy
behavior on its part, but rather noted that it
was clumsy in its action and ate but rarely, I
became much interested in finding out the
cause of its abnormal size. Finally it became
so plump and unwieldy as to be hardly able

77

to move about. At last the secret of its odd
appearance was made known and just three
weeks after it gave birth to the sixteen little
snakes I made my usual visit to the box to see
how my fat garter snake was progressing, when
I was amazed to find my snake reduced to but
little more than a skeleton, while the box was
swarming with active little garter snakes.
These I removed to another box and while so
doing I counted sixty lively little baby garter
snakes all about the usual size. It was a re-
markable case of ‘ freak birth’ in snakes, so I
preserved the prolific parent snake in alcohol.
You see here it is, no larger than an ordinary
full grown garter snake, while it is so emaciated
that its ribs are perceptible through the skin.”

“That was a strange case indeed. I suppose
such cases are inexplicable. Like strange
freaks of Nature evidenced in higher forms of
animal life there is hardly any satisfactory ex-
planation of such cases.”

“You are right; seldom can such unusual
instances in generation be explained.

The baby garter snake is a miniature of its
parent ; it is usually about six inches long,
active and graceful. A short time after birth it
is in earnest search for its natural nourishment,
worms, tadpoles and baby toads. I have fre-
quently watched individuals of my large fam-
ily of baby garter snakes fiercely struggle for
the possession of a wee baby toad, contested
by two or even more resolute little snakes till

78

one shake not only swallowed the toad but as
well the greater portion of its unfortunate rela-
tive; then when I freed the imprisoned little
snake it was soon eagerly in search of another
toad.

Garter snakes are partial to water. I noticed
that they are graceful swimmers and pass much
time in harmonious company with the water
adders in the water-vessel placed in the box for
my pets. They become quite tame in confine-
ment and seldom attempt to bite.”

THE WATER SNAKES,

“We find but three species of the water
snakes in the eastern part of our country.

The common water snake or water adder isa
stout, strong snake, which grows to four feet in
length. This species—Tropidonotus sipedon—
is the most savage of our common snakes. Al-
though a really timid snake, escaping if op-
portunity permits, yet when cornered it bites
viciously. It is aquatic, and a rapid and grace-
ful swimmer. Let me show you a fine specimen
I lately secured, my dear Fritz. It is three and
one-half feet in length, seven inches round, and
it weighs two and three-quarter pounds. No
doubt this fellow is many years of age. Seldom
are they found as large as this one.

The general color of the water adder is
brownish or dusky above, with large, dark
blotches, alternating with smaller, triangular,

79

reddish blotches on the sides and back. The
underside is yellowish brown, with two or
more rows of irregular, semi-circular brownish
spots. In some old specimens the color above
is dusky brown, and the markings are hardly
discernible, while the underside is marked
with dull yellowish and brown blotches. The
eyes of this species are small, with a reddish
caste, possessing a vicious expression, true to
the irritable temper of this snake. The scales
on the back are coarse, forming a keel along
the dorsal line.

Although fitted to seize its natural prey in
the water, and capable of remaining beneath
the surface for considerable time, yet the water
adder frequents the shore in search of frogs and
toads, and to enjoy a noon-day nap beneath
stones and refuse matter. It is very quick in
its movements, and readily attacks large fish.
‘The old fishermen along the Delaware have
entertained me with interesting accounts of ex-
citing life struggles between large eels and full
grown water adders. And they have also told
me of instances when water adders have com-
passed their own destruction in attempting to
gorge large cat-fish, the sharp spines of which
have pierced through the distended skin of the
snake’s neck, and thus caused the death of the
gormand snake.

Karly in August the female water adder
brings forth her young, in some suitable spot
on land.» Her family usually numbers sixteen,

80

yet I have seen instances when my pets gave
birth to as high as twenty-two little ones, and
I have also noted cases of birth among this
species as late as the middle of October. The
baby water adder is quite a pretty snake, with
bright and distinct markings. The alternating
yellowish white triangular spots and brownish
rhomboida] blotches along the sides, with whit-
ish lines across the back and delicate pencil-
ings of yellowish and brown on the under side,
all combine to make a pretty effect. The baby
snake is about seven inches in length, quite
stout, very active and full of fight. It feeds on
tadpoles, baby toads and small fish.

The water adder when irritated, flattens its
body to the ground and fiercely attacks its tor-
mentor. The teeth of this species are large and
strong and my experience is that their bite is
more severe than that inflicted by any other
species of our common snake. It cannot be
considered a pleasing pet because of its timid,
suspicious and irritable disposition. It makes
sad havoc among the fish in a stocked pond.

The stiff snake—Tropidonotus rigidus—is
greenish brown above, with two brownish dor-
sal stripes. Beneath it is dull yellow with two
rows of brown spots. This species seldom
grows more than twenty inches in length.

The leather snake—Tropidonotus leberis—is
quite an attractive reptile ; it attains a length
of about two feet. It is chestnut brown above,
with three narrow, black dorsal stripes and a

81

yellowish lateral band. Beneath it is pale yel-
low with four rows of dark spots.

Both of these species are comparatively rare
in the Delaware valley. They are not as pre-
daceous among the fish of our streams as the
water adder, as their food consists mainly of
toads, frogs and tadpoles.

THE SPREADING ADDER.

“Now, my dear Fritz, grant me your special
attention to my notes on the most interesting
species of our common snakes. This is the
hog-nose snake, spreading adder, blowing viper
or flat adder, as it is variously called in dif-
ferent parts of the country. The spreading
adder—Heterodon platyrhinus—attains a length
of about thirty inches when full grown. It has
a stout, ungraceful body, with abruptly taper-
ing tail. The skin, especially about the neck,
is quite loose, thus giving to the snake a clumsy,
soft appearance, so different from the compact,
graceful form of all other species of our com-
mon snakes. This species is quite variable in
coloration, but generally it is yellowish-brown
above, marked with about thirty dark brown
spots along the back, growing into bands along
the tail. Beneath it is yellowish, clouded with
slate color. The name hog-nose snake gets its
derivation from the peculiar shape of its muz-
zle ; this is pointed triangularly, slightly turned

82

up, and thus somewhat resembles a hog’s snout.

Although the spreading adder is sluggish in
its habits, yet when irritated it assumes a most
threatening attitude. It coils quickly, fills out
its loose skin with air till nearly twice its
natural size, flattens its body close to the
eround, expands its neck to a wonderful de-
gree, emits a long drawn hiss, and viciously
strikes at its tormentor with lightning like
strokes of wrath-inspired fury. But all this
terrifying manifestation of deadly ire is but
harmless bluster, as it never opens its mouth
during its savage attacks, and it is as harmless
as a little kitten.

A peculiar characteristic of this snake, not
existing in any other species of our common
snakes, is its practice of ‘ playing possum,’
when unable to frighten away its tormentor
with a manifestation of serpentine rage. When
resorting to this deception it rolls over on its
back, with mouth wide open and tongue pro-
truding, and lying perfectly quiet it thus simu-
lates death perfectly. In this state it may be
roughly handled, and even knocked about, yet
it remains limp and apparently lifeless. It
will continue this deception till its captor, even
though sometimes a naturalist, thoroughly de-
ceived, casts it away in disgust, when, presto, it
suddenly revives and quickly glides out of
harm’s way into the nearest shelter. I have se-
cured specimens of this snake, when it feigned
death so perfectly and continued the deception

83

for so long a time, that before I became
thoroughly acquainted with its life habits I was
tempted to throw it aside, under the impression
that perhaps its vehement exhibition of rage
when first I caught it had really re-acted on it
in some fatal manner to cause its death. But,
my Fritz, the old schoolmaster, experience,
soon taught me that I was being duped by the
clever trick of a despised snake, so now, when a
specimen tries to impose on my sympathies by
practicing the ‘possum trick,’ I cruelly place
it in my snake box and coolly watch it recover
its senses.

The hog-nose snake or spreading adder, is
found in open fields, generally near streams,
where its natural food, toads, frogs and sala-
manders, are to be found. It burrows readily
in seareh of grubs and insects. It is very
deliberate in its movements, and does not pos-
sess the ability to glide as swiftly out of danger
as the other species of our common snakes.

During the early part of July the female
spreading adder lays about a dozen yellowish
white, pointed eggs, about one inch long and
one-half inch in diameter. These are deposited
in some suitable spot to be hatched by the
moist heat of their resting place. The little
snakes are much lighter in color than the par-
ent and interesting little creatures.

The species neger is black or dark brown
above, slate color below, a truly formidable ap-
pearing reptile, yet perfectly harmless,”

84

“Ts not the spreading adder frequently mis-
taken for the deadly copper head ?”

“Yes, my Fritz, because of its vicious be-
havior when irritated, and its fancied resem-
blance to the venomous copper head, the —
farmers kill it under the erroneous impression
that they are destroying a death dealing ser-
pent. This is a serious mistake as the spread-
ing adder is not only absolutely harmless, but
it is a valuable adjunct to the farm and garden.
You know, my Fritz, that no one has a greater
need of knowledge of Nature than the farmer,
as he frequently kills his best friends among
the lower animals through ignorance of their
true life habits.

The spreading adder is a most interesting
pet, because, though most vicious of all our
common snakes in behavior, yet it is positively
harmless, and can be handled with impunity’”

THE BLACK SNAKE.

“The truly representative species of our com-
mon snakes is the black snake, my Fritz. The
black snake—Bascanium constrictor—is ex-
ceedingly graceful in form, swift as thought in
its movements, fearlessly irritable in temper,
and a most interesting subject for study.

The body of this snake is comparatively
slight, tapering gracefully towards the fine
point of its prehensile tail. The general color

85

is a glossy blue-black on the back and sides,
and slate color below. A _ glistening white
patch is always present on the chin and throat
of this species. Its scales, ag you may observe
from this fine specimen, are large, smooth and
hexagonal in shape. The tail is about one-
fourth the full length of its supple body. The
eyes are large, bold and jet black. This species
grows to a length of six feet; occasionally speci-
mens are found over seven feet in length, but
as a rule a black snake six feet long is an un-
common find.

The natural haunts of the black snake are in
the vicinity of marshes and streams, where a
dense growth of vegetation assures a safe shel-
ter, into which it glides like an arrow when
disturbed. Its food consists of frogs, small
birds, such small animals as field mice and
moles, etc. It climls trees readily to rob bird’s
nests of eggs and young birds. It attacks other
species of snakes fearlessly, even the deadly
rattlesnake, and frequently gorges its victim
after securing one. J have, on several occa-
sions, witnessed my black snake pets seize gar-
ter snakes and water adders nearly two feet in
length and deliberately proceed to swallow the
hapless victim. After seizing a snake, the
black snake quickly throws a coil of its lithe
body on the struggling captive, and thus hold-
ing it firmly to the ground, begins the act of
deglutition, or gorging its meal head-first.

This species has a peculiar habit of beating

86

the ground with lightning-like strokes of its
finely pointed tail when irritated, as if in imi-
tation of the warning given by the deadly
rattlesnake just previous to striking.”

“Ts not this species commonly called the
‘racer, from its practice of chasing persons
who unwarily disturb it?”

“Yes, my Fritz, it is generally believed that
the black snake or ‘racer’ as it is commonly
called, really chases persons, who, startled by
the sudden appearance of one of these ill-re-
puted ophidians flee in terror from its presence.
I have never learned of an authentic case when
the black snake literally chased a human being.
I have captured many specimens of this species,
in one instance securing five fine specimens in
about five minutes, one of which was over six
feet in length. Repeatedly I have met well
grown black snakes in my rambles and though
I have noticed that they were slow to move at
my approach, yet when I resolutely advanced
towards them they invariably attempted to es-
cape, and I found it necessary to be exceedingly
quick in my endeavors to seize them. I have
seen large specimens of garter snakes, water
snakes and pine snakes when severely irritated
swiftly glide for a short distance directly at
their tormentors. So I know no reason why a
black snake, with its characteristic pugnacious
disposition, should not do the same thing when
cornered and teased, but I am hardly able to
credit the extravagant stories that find circula-

87
tion relative to black snakes actually chasing
and attacking human beings when fleeing in
terror from them.

About the first week in July the female black
snake lays from eighteen to twenty-two yellow-
ish white eggs, covered with a tough leathery
skin. These eggs vary in size and form. One
of my pets laid twenty-two eggs; some of
these were laid singly and were elliptical in
form, pointed, and one and one-half inch long
and three-quarter inch in diameter. Others
were cvlindrical in form, with flat ends, and
about #x# in size; several of these were con-
nected by a thin thread-like skin about a half
inch in length between each egg. In its nat-
ural haunts the black snake lays its eggs in a
shallow hole in the soft earth, generally along
the edge of wood land, or beneath old stumps
of trees in open plowed fields. About three or
four weeks elapses after the eggs are deposited
when the moist heat of their resting place
hatches the young snakes.

The baby black snake is a pretty creature,
very active, of a dark olive color with a row of
irregular brown spots, bordered with darker
margins along the back. The sides of the body
and the under side are also generally spotted.”

“It seems to be a prevalent belief that the
bite of the black snake is a serious «affair. Is
there any foundation for such opinion ?”

“Nene whatever, my Fritz. The bite of a
black snake is comparatively insignificant, a

88

mere scratch compared to a wound inflicted by
the bite of a water adder. I have repeatedly
allowed my black snake pets to bite me after
severely teasing them, and I have thus learned
by experience that the slight wounds they can
inflict, even during a furious attack, amounts to
less than a severe pin scratch, and they are truly
less painful than a pin scratch generally proves
to be. Of course the wound inflicted by the
needle-like teeth of an enraged black snake will
naturally enough draw blood, but it is really
unworthy of notice, as the black snake is a pos-
itively harmless snake.

Although this species possesses a power to
squeeze to a very perceptible degree, yet it is
not sufficiently strong to do any injury to a
human being or other large enemy in the exer-
cise of its powers of constriction.

The black snake when not abused proves to
be a very tractable pet, and when handled
gently makes no attempt to bite; but when
abused it is quick to resent injury. It delights
to bask in the sun’s warm rays. Frequently
during my early Spring rambles I have met
several individuals, generally in pairs, grace-
fully coiled on a grassy spot enjoying the solar
warmth.

The black snakes, after mating, are generally
found in pairs, and there seems to exist quite
an attachment between mates of this interesting
species.”

89
THE PINE SNAKE,

“The largest of our common snakes, my
Fritz, is the pine snake or bull snake, as it is
called in some localities. This snake attains
a length of over six feet; it has a stout, strong
body.

The general color of the pine snake—Pityo-
phis molanoleucus—is yellowish white. The
scales of the back anteriorly are well spattered
with brown; posteriorly these brown markings
are developed into spots and bands Along
the glistening white sides are irregular rhom-
boidal blotches and spots of brown and slate
color. ‘The underside is yellowish white with
slate color blotches.

The head of the pine snake is ungraceful,
with thick neck. The tail is about one-seventh
the total length of the body and it terminates
in a peculiar horny point. The scales of the
back are pointed and keeled, while along the
sides they are smooth.

The pine snake derives its name from its
natural habitat, the ‘ pine barrens.’ The ‘ pine
hawkers’ or charcoal burners give it the name
of bull snake and declare that it ‘ bellows like
a bull’ at certain seasons; this assertion is not
satisfactorily authentivated, yet it hisses vi-
ciously when irritated.

This snake is slow in its movements and of
equable temper, thus it can be readily handled
if not abused. When tormented it hisses furi-

90

ously and strikes viciously at its tormentor.
It makes an interesting pet and can be fed on
small animals, small birds, frogs and hen’s eggs.

“Tt is the pine snake that is so frequently
seen In museums, where ‘snake charmers’ awe
the horrified audience by their reckless hand-
ling of large deadly (?) serpents. I have seen
them brazenly caressed by representative
‘snake charmers’ in sadly abbreviated skirts at
our agricultural fairs, when I could not help
deciding that the snake was far less dangerous
than its blase ‘ charmer.’ ”

“You are right, my Fritz, quite a trade has
been developed for good live specimens of this
species ; and the dealers in this peculiar mer-
chandise ship so many pine snakes to the big
cities, that this species is likely to be soon ex-
terminated.

The pine snake in its natural haunts is gen-
erally found alone. It feeds on young rabbits,
small birds and will venture near houses in
search of hen’s eggs, while it never refuses an
opportunity to regale itself on the contents of a
‘stolen’ guinea’s nest. The female lays from
six to ten blunt pointed or rather elliptical
eggs, about the size of a pigeon’s egg, white,
with tough leathery skin; these are deposited
in the sand. The baby snakes are about seven
inches in length and nearly white, markings
quite obscure.”

91

THE CHAIN SNAKE,

“The king snake, chain snake or thunder
snake—-Ophibolus-getulus—is an attractive rep-
tile, my Fritz. The color of this snake is a
deep lustrous black above, with about thirty
yellowish white, irregular rings along the sides
and back, forming a delicate chain. Beneath
it is slate color, with large yellowish white
blotches. It grows to a length of five feet. In
its general life habits it resembles the black
snake.”

THE MILK SNAKE,

“The milk snake, house snake or spotted
adder is peculiar in the fact that its various
names in no wise apply especially to it. The
milk snake—Ophibolus triangulus—as it is gen-
erally called, grows to about three feet in length
and has a graceful form. General color of this
snake is pinkish white, with a row of large red
brown spots, bordered with black running
along the back. On the sides are alternating
small spots of pinkish white and dark brown.
The under parts are artistically checkered with
whitish and slate colored square blotches. A
prominent pinkish white arrow shaped mark
always present on top of the head. The young
milk snake is a very pretty little reptile. Gen-
eral color whitish, with numerous clear, bright
red spots.

92

The milk snake is useful about the farm as a
field mouse destroyer, but the slanders against
it as a ‘milk thief’ are not founded on facts. I
have secured it miles from any dairy, feeding
on frogs.”

THE FOX SNAKE.

“ The fox snake—Coluber- vulpinus—is a fine
representative of our common snakes, This
snake grows to abcut five feet in length and is
graceful in form. It is of a yellowish brown
color, with a series of square chocolate brown
blotches along the back and a row of smaller
spots of the same color along the sides. Be-
neath it is yellowish white with square, black
spots. The favorite resorts of the fox snake
are the hilly wooded districts of the northeast-
ern part of our country. A friend sent to me a
fine specimen from the hilly district of Penn-
sylvania which gave birth to fifteen little
ones ; these were miniatures of their parent.

The fox snake is of a docile disposition and
thus makes a pleasant pet.”

THE SUMMER GREEN SNAKE.

“The summer green snake—Cyclophis «s-
tivus—is an exquisite little creature. This spe-
cies is also indigenous to the mountain dis-
tricts. It has a small, conical head, very deli-
eate neck and slight graceful body. It grows

93

to about thirty inches in length. The summer
green snake is bright brilliant green above, and
creamy white or delicate pale green beneath.
It frequents low bushes in search of its insect
food.

Now, in addition to the species of our com-
mon snakes already discussed, and which attain
a length of over two feet when full grown, we
have several species of small harmless snakes
that do not grow over twenty inches in length.
These little snakes are perfectly harmless, never
attempting to bite. They subsist on tadpoles,
grubs, earthworms and small insects, and most
of them burrow in search of their food.”

THE RING-NECKED SNAKE.

“In my opinion, the prettiest species of all
our snakes is the beautiful little ring-necked
snake—Diadophis punctatus.

This pretty little creature has a slight grace-
ful form, with head depressed and large eyes,
and it attains a length of fifteen inches. The
general color above, a rich blue black ; beneath,
bright pale orange, with each scale dotted on
its outer edges with small black dots, one on
each edge. Generally a row of small black dots
runs along the middle line of the under side,
one dot to each scute. A yellowish white ring
around the delicate neck is an always present
distinguishing mark.

The ring-neck snake frequents secluded local-

94

ities, where it burrows beneath decayed logs
and bark in search of its food, slugs, salaman-
ders and insect larvae. Although it may be
found throughout nearly the whole country,
yet it is not often met, because of its love of se-
clusion.

DE KAY’S BROWN SNAKE,

The DeKay’s brown snake-=Storeria de K ayi-=
has a stout body that tapers toward its delicate
neck and small head. It is grayish brown
above, with a prominent clay-colored dorsal
band, dotted with minute black dots along its
edges. Beneath, grayish. This snake seldom
grows over a foot in length. It is one of our
commonest snakes and is usually found near
water where it secures tadpoles, grubs and
earthworms for sustenance.

RED-BELLIED SNAKE.

The red-bellied snake—Storeria occipitomac-
ulata—is less common than DeKay’s brown
snake and is slighter in form. Color above
chestnut brown, with a narrow grayish dorsal
stripe. A distinguishing mark peculiar to this
species is three pale blotches on the back part
of the head; these are seldom absent. Color,
beneath salmon red. Length seldom over a
foot. General habits same as the DeKay’s
brown snake.

95
THE GRASS SNAKE,

A really pretty species of our common snakes
is the grass snake or green snake—Liopeltis
vernalis. This little creature grows to about
twenty inches in length. It has a delicate
graceful form, with an elongate head, small
neck and large eyes. It is a bright grass green
above, while beneath it is a yellowish green.
It frequents grassy meadows and low bushes in
search of its insect food.

“There, my Fritz, now you know something
about the life habits of our common snakes.”

“T congratulate you, my dear Count, on the
very valuable scientific facts that you have
added by your own personal observations to
science.”

CuaprTer IV.

A HAPPY “ FIND.”

** My spirit yearns to bring
The lost one back—yearns with desire intense.”
—BRYANT.

In the Spring of ’94, after a most enjoyable
visit at the hermitage, I. bade farewell to the
old hermit and Petro, for a short absence among
the wilds of Pennsylvania’s picturesque hills,
I had secured cozy quarters with a very con-
genial old couple right among the natural
charms of a glorious country, and in a short
space of time after leaving the old hermit I was
comfortably domiciled in my mountain home.
It was my purpose in selecting such a locality
to carefully explore the mountain wilderness in
search of specimens for my rapidly growing
collection, such as can be found only in rugged,
hilly country.

The first few days of my visit were consumed
in a careful “hunt” in the immediate vicinity
of my home. After securing numerous valua-
ble “finds” in such contracted area, my trips
were extended to considerable distances. Fre-
quently my kind hostess prepared a generous
lunch for me, when I prolonged my rambles
for miles, returning often late in the evening.
During one of these extended trips the follow-
ing highly interesting facts were experienced.

97
HIGH BLUFF.

It was a glorious morning when I left my
mountain domicile for a long day’s hunt right
into the heart of Pennsylvania’s most rugged
territory. I rambled for miles over a magnifi-
cent country, meeting with encouraging success,
when suddenly my attention was attracted to a
stately appearing building some miles distant,
situated on a high bluff, from which a fine view
of the surrounding charming landscape might
be enjoyed. At once I decided to reach that
high point of observation, and to enjoy the
wonderful view it afforded of the charming
country, stretching away from its base for miles
in all directions.

Believing it would be wise to refresh my
somewhat wearied body before starting for my
destination, I soon found a clear, sparkling and
enticing mountain brook, where I ate my lunch,
examined my “finds,” corrected my notes, then
enjoyed a quiet smoke. Feeling refreshed and
invigorated I started with brisk steps toward
the rugged eminence. A short walk, a laborious
climb, then fatigued and almost breathless I
gladly dropped on a mossy bank near the edge
of the elevated bluff. The view from my ele-
vated position was full recompense for the labor
expended in securing it. After fully enjoying
the magnificent panorama of natural scenery
spreading away before me for miles, feeling re-
freshed in body and mind, I started on a tour

98

of inspection of the fine grounds of the institu-
tion that occupied the high eminence.

While leisurely walking along one of the
well-kept gravelled paths that led along the
edge of the bluff, I suddenly stopped, riveted
to the spot by an indescribable sensation, that
thrilled my being, and Jeft me almost incapable
of action. A short distance in advance of me,
and gracefully reclining on a rustic bench, was
the most beautiful young lady I had ever seen.
She was neatly attired in the garb of a trained
nurse, and seemed deeply absorbed in pensive
' thought. But it was not that angelic face that
unnerved me; so beautiful, so chaste, yet with
a perceptible pleading pensiveness, that at once
touched the sympathy of a keen observant
student of Nature. What then so affected my
usually calm temperament? Ah, it was not
the chaste beauty of that lovely face; it was
not the sympathy inspiring pensiveness of its
sweet expression. No, no, but what thrilled
my being, and overcame my usual self-posses-
sion, was the overwhelming consciousness,
yea, positive conviction, that somewhere, at
some previous time, I had seen that face before,
associated with most tender remembrances, and
also with terribly sad experiences. Still be-
numbed by my strange experience, and yet
fully realizing my embarrassing position should
the young lady discover my presence, I slowly
retired, desirious of quietly, soberly meditating
on the cause of my very unusual behavior,

99

Rapidly descending the precipitous mountain
path I followed the highway with nervous,
quick steps anxious to enjoy the privacy of my
little room in the quiet farm house, where I
could seriously review the extraordinary ex-
periences of the day.

Reaching home under the spur of an all
prevading suspicion, that some wonderful and
important discovery required most careful delib-
eration and judicious conduct, I bade the
good folks an early good-night on the plea of
excessive fatigue, and sought the calm solitude
of my own room. There I gave myself up to
an absorbing consideration of the causes, the
plausibility, the consequences of my strong im-
pressions relative to the true personality of the
beautiful young lady, the discovery of whom
had so peculiarly affected me. After devoting
an hour or more in serious thought on the
day’s strange events, I finally decided on a judi-
cious plan of action for the morrow, and then
I retired.

“IT IS SHE.”

The next morning dawned gloriously. Natu-
rally anxious to at once investigate the peculiar
events of the preceding day, I was soon wend-
ing my way towards the bluff. I was confident
that the young lady would not occupy her, ap-
parently usual place of reverie till after-noon,
but I was so anxiously impatient that I was

100

compelled to, at least, be in the line of the ful-
fillment of my carefully prepared pian of action.
The hours dragged along so slowly ; but at last
the sun reached the meridian, when I sought
out the sparkling mountain bruck, where I
lunched and decided to visit the bluff on the
preceding day. Here again I refreshed my
body and composed my mind before attempt-
ing the ascent of the steep path to my desti-
nation,

Again, almost exhausted, I reclined on the
mossy brink of the precipitous bluff, and again
felt fully paid for my arduous climb in the
marvelous and inspiring view of natural scenery
enjoyed from that high point of observation.
Rested in body, and composed and resolute in
mind, with a carefully prepared plan of action
for the positive settlement of my honest con-
victions, should I be so favored as to again
meet the charming stranger, I leisurely walk-
ed along the gravelled path towards the trysting
place.

Fortune favored my heart’s longings. At
the same point where I made the discovery
that so strangely affected me but yesterday, I
again saw the same beautiful young lady. On
this occasion she was deeply absorbed in the
perusal of a magazine and she did not discover
my presence. Slowly advancing toward her,
as if I was quietly enjoying the magnificent
grounds so well Jaid out about me, my foot-
steps attracted her attention, and as I drew

101

nearer to her, she dropped her book into her
lap, and, perfectly self-possessed, awaited my
approach,

“Good afternoon, I hope I am not an in-
truder on these beautiful grounds.”

“Ob, no sir, we are always pleased to wel-
come visitors to admire our quiet and beautiful
retreat.”’

“This is certainly a magnificent country.
May I ask the character of yonder institution.”

“That is Cliffside Sanitarium; and _ these
beautiful grounds belong to it.”
~ “ Ah, a most appropriate locality for such an
institution. Iam a stranger in this wonderful
country, and it was while eating my lunch be-
side a brook at the base of this high bluff, that
I was tempted to enjoy the fine view of the
surrounding landscape, promised from this high
point of observation. I have been rambling
for several days about this charming wilderness
in search of zoological specimens, and I have
never seen grander natural scenery than can be
viewed from this elevated position.”

“You are a Naturalist, sir?”

“Yes, I am honored in being an humble dis-
ciple of Linneus,”

“ My dear papa was an enthusiastic Natural-
ist; many pleasant rambles we enjoyed together
in search of specimens for his cabinet.”

“Ts he deceased?”

“Ah, sir, that question I cannot answer. If
I knew assuredly that papa was no more I

8

102

could be far happier than [ am with my ever
present hopes and doubts relative to his wel-
fare. Many weary years have flown by since
I last saw my dear papa, and I know not what
has become of him.”

“Pardon my inconsiderate question, if it has
aroused sad memories. It was but natural
that I should be interested in the experiences
of a co-wor:er in Nature’s extensive realms.
Although a stranger to you, yet I may be of
service in securing some satisfactory informa-
tion regarding your father’s fate. I enjoy an
extensive acquaintance among scientific men,
and thus I may be able to secure some knowl-
edge relative to your father that may be of
value to you.”

“You are very kind. For years I have
locked the secret of my great sorrow in my
own bosom, but I feel it to be my duty to use
every available means at my command to learn
the truth respecting my dear papa’s fate. You
may be of most valuable service to me, as you
go among the men and women who are the
most likely to know something of my papa. I
gladiy accept your generous proffer of assist-
ance and I shall prove my appreciation of your
sympathy by confiding my heart’s secret to
you. It must, naturally, surprise you that I
would thus make a confident of a total stranger,
but the fact that you are a naturalist, removes
all doubts of your integrity, and again, the still
more important fact that you associate with the

103

very people most likely to know something of
my papa, compels me to accept your kind and
sympathetic aid, as this is an opportunity I
dare not let slip. Hear my story.”

“T am a Sicilian by birth. At an early age,
I was left motherless, and papa was my sole
companion. He as a devoted naturalist, so I
spent much of my time in his company, ramb-
ling about our beautiful estate searching for
the creatures of Nature to study. When about
twelve years of age I was stolen from my papa
and my happy home by a band of brigands
which occasionally passed through our terri-
tory. I was taken to the mountain home of
the brigands and presented to the stern old
chief. He at once became attached to me and
issued a decree that I should be the future
queen of the tribe. For two long weary years
I remained with the band, till at last the chief
issued still another decree, declaring that in
two short weeks I would be wedded to his only
son, and thus became the literal queen of the
tribe. Great preparations for an extensive gala
time followed this edict. But a week previous
to the merry occasion I was abducted by a
jealous suitor, aided by several faithful associ-
ates and we embarked from Messina for some
continental point from whence we took steamer
for New York City.

When a mere child I had read of the great
metropolis of the western continent, and fre-
quently papa had told to me interesting facts

104

concerning this great city. During our voyage
my guardian died of a malignant fever, but be-
fore his death he cautioned me to be sure and
seek out some Christian minister as soon as I
landed and to tell him my whole story and
follow his advice. After a tedious voyage I at
last arrived in the great city, and on landing I
inquired of an official at the dock the address
of the minister of the first church that hap-
pened to my mind. He curtly referred me to
a pleasant appearing old gentleman, who stated
that he was a city missionary and would be
pleased to take me under his care till I found
my friends. I went home with him and there
I told my whole unhappy story. His wife, a
sweet, motherly old lady, decided that my case
required graver consideration and care than
they felt capable of giving it, so they made me
very comfortable for that night, and told me
they would refer my case to wise and good
friends in the morning. On the following
morning I accompanied the kind old gentleman
to a handsome residence on a wide avenue,
where I was introduced to another kind old
gentleman, who listened attentively to my
story and then decided to make me a member
of his family till he could do something towards
finding my friends.

Well, not to weary you with details, I spent
two happy years with this grand old man, dur-
ing which time he exhausted every means for
the recovery of my lost relationships, but with-

105

out success. Then I decided that I would de-
vote my life to soothing the wretchedness of
other poor unfortunates so | became a trained
nurse. I was recommended to the Cliffside
Sanitarium and I readily accepted a position
here when I saw its charming location. Six
long years have passed since I was forcibly
separated from my dear papa and I am yet
ignorant of what his fate may be.”

“T thank you sincerely for your confidence
Yours is indeed a sad story. I pledge you my
honor to do all in my power to learn assuredly
what has become of your sadly bereaved parent.
Now have you any little trinket that you will
trust in my care and that I may use as a posi-
tive proof of your identity?”

“Oh, yes. I have here a small locket that I
always carry with me. It contains the picture
of my mother. Papa has one like it. I will
gladly entrust it to your care as it is a positive
proof of my identity. Papa had two made af-
ter mamma died, ard he told me never to part
with this one, but as proof of my perfect confi-
dence in you I place it in your keeping. Now
I must return to the house. You will surely
see me again within a short time. I feel inde-
scribably happy and hopeful.”

“Ah, my child, do not foster too bright
hopes, only to be sadly blighted. I will do all
in my power; but it is no small matter to un-
ravel the mysteries of six long years.”

“T know it, I know it; yet I cannot but feel

106

an assurance that you will succeed. Now,
good-bye, and heaven bless your efforts.”

She was gone. The awful nervous restraint
under which I rested during the recital of her
sad experiences now re-acted on my mental
and physical powers almost to my undoing. I
fell almost insensible into the seat that she had
just vacated. My mind was in a wild tumult.
The full proof of the happy reality of my sus-
picions almost over-powered me. I sat for a
short time deeply absorbed in thought. “ There
is no doubt about it; I am right; it is she.
How shali I act? What must I do? Ah, why
craze my mind with such thoughts; I will go
home, sleep over the matter and in the morn-
ing, happy and refreshed, I can carefully con-
sider the important discovery and plan accord-
ingly.” These were my reflections, With one
final, yea, longing look towards the hoase I
started homeward with reckless speed. A short
hour afterward I was in the quiet calm of my
own room. Here I could not resist the tempta-
tion of putting aside the vail that hides the
future, and fully enjeying the rich promises of
mutual joy and happiness assured to my dear
old hermit, his beautiful child and myself the
humble instrument in the hands of an inscruta-
ble Providence. With a happy heart I retired
early anxious for the morrow when I would be
the swift messenger of great joy to the old her-
mit.

The next morning I arose early, refreshed

107

and in good spirits. While awaiting the usual
summons to breakfast I busied myself packing
my specimens, and as well formulated a plan
of action relative to my happy discovery. At
the morning meal I informed my genial host
and hostess that I wished to take my departure
before noon. They were somewhat surprised
by the abruptness of my unexpected informa-
tion, but satisfied that I was the judge of my
best interests, they expressed regret at so soon
parting company with me and extended a
hearty invitation to visit them if ever again in
the neighborhood. I promised to pay them
another visit in a short time, then while my
host departed to the stable for the horse and
carriage to convey me to the railway station, I
completed my preparations for departure.
Soon I was speeding homeward. Arriving
home in the early evening I spent a few hours
with my relatives and then I retired, anxious
to hasten the morrow when I could turn my
steps towards the old hermitage.

Karly after breakfast the next morning I was
making great haste toward my destination, the
quiet, soothing influences of the island hermi-
tage. A brisk walk soon brought me to the
riverside of the mainland opposite the island.
Soon my peculiar signal was noticed and I was
delighted to see Petro push a boat from the
shore and accompanied by Pluto row over to
me. When we landed on the island I followed
Petro’s instructions and soon discovered the old

108

hermit enjoying a quiet smoke beneath the
favorite old oak near the house.

As I advanced toward my beloved friend, I
noticed that he seemed absorbed in deep reverie.
Never before had I observed such an expression
of mental anguish on his handsome face. The
sight instantly touched my sympathy, for I at
once surmised the nature of his grievously sad
reflections. As I rapidly and cheerily advanced
to him he recognized me and at once arose
from his place to welcome me.

“ Ah, my dear Fritz, you can never conceive
my real delight on seeing you at this time.
For days I have been under a crushing weight
of almost maddening anguish, born of a slowly
but surely dying hope of ever again seeing my
poor, sadly bereaved Anita. Six long weary
years have slipped into eternity; during this
dark period of my life I have ceaselessly prayed
and hoped that I might gain some clew to her
whereabouts, either alive or dead. For several
days I have vainly attempted to cast aside a
crushing, heart-rending premonition that never
again shall I either see or hear of my precious
child, and my despairing soul has been slip-
ping, slipping into the dark abyss of utter
hopelessness. But, there, my Fritz, your timely
return to me revives my depressed spirits and
I will try to be even more than ever patient
and hopeful. Yet, candidly, my dear Fritz,
this gnawing, persistent doubt is slowly, surely
eating my life away.”

109

“JT fully sympathize with you, my dear
Count, yet I sincerely believe that your years
of patient hc pe and believing prayers will be
rewarded far beyond your happiest anticipa-
tions.”

“You do, my Fritz; you truly believe that
we shall be united again this side of eternity?
Oh, my dear comforter, I thank you more than
tongue can express for that sweet assurance.”

“ But come, my dear Count, let us retire to
the ‘den,’ I wish to enjoy a quiet talk with you
along this line.”

A strange expression swept over the old her-
mit’s fine face, at my request. A mixture of
terror born of awful forebodings of evil tidings,
and of overwhelming joy inspired by happy
expectations of good news.

GLAD TIDINGS.

When we were comfortably seated in our
favorite places in the cosy “den,” facing each
other I declar d:

“ Now, my dear Count, I have not the least
shadow of a doubt that I enjoy your fullest
esteem and confidence, yet you have but once
during our long intimacy spoken of your great
loss in my presence. You have never solicited
my aid in finding some traces of your lost
child, nor have you even given me any clews
by which I could possibly trace her. I say
this not chidingly but seriously. I know you

110

have the fullest assurance of my sympathy and
you know I would do anything in my power
to aid you.”

“Oh, my Fritz, I see now my mistake. It
was from fear of burdening you with my
anguish that my lips have been closed. I
should have been more confident of your love
and sympathy; but I thought only of your
happiness and not of my woe.”

““T appreciate the kind sentiments that have
caused you to hide your poignant grief in your
own heart, my dear Count. But now I must
make this demand on your love for me; tell
me how I can serve you in this grievous mat-
ter. Let me know how I may be useful to you
as I go among men, as a searcher for your lost
idol. Give me some clew by which I shall
know that I am on the right track, fully un-
burden your heart to me, hold nothing back
and together we will pursue this serious matter
to its final end, that we may assuredly know
what has become of your tender Anita.”

“Forgive me, my Fritz, forgive me. I will
confide all to you and with heaven’s blessing
on our efforts, from this moment we will de-
vote every minute of available time in fully
unravelling the distracting mystery enveloping
my lost child. Till death do us part we will
persistently, hopefully and resolutely prosecute
our search till we gain a full and satisiactory
solution of this distracting enigma and we
know positively that my child is dead ana

11]

where her body lies, or happier thought, that
she is yet alive and where, and how circum-
stanced. Is it a compact my dear Fritz? Will
you even at this late day accept my full confi-
dence and give me your devoted aid in this
holy mission? Speak, my Fritz.”

“ Ah, my dear Count, you need ask of me no
such pledge. I give it veluntarily, happy in-
deed to be able to perform in the exercise of
my best talents, whatever les in my power
toward the permanent, final settlement and ex-
planation of this depressing mystery. Here is
my hand and with it my heart. Death alene
shall loose this compact.”

“Bless you my Fritz. I gladly accept your
kind offer and time only can prove my estima-
tion of your sympathy and true friendship.
Now to the work. I have already told you all
the facts relative to the disappearance of my
child so far as I possess them. From the time
my sweet Anita left my stricken home I have
learned nothing of her except the story of her
abduction and her departure for the new world.
I carefully traced these facts and substantiated
them, but I have not been able to learn one
single little truth relative to her since her de-
parture from Messina. Whether she ever
reached New York City or landed at some oth-
er port, I cannot tell. Let me show to you a
little trinket that I value nearly as my life; it
is the surest clew to her identity that I possess.
I keep it always here over my heart, and I

112

have never shown this precious remembrance
to a living soul since my Anita’s disappearance.”

Opening his loose shirt the old hermit took
from his person a small gold locket that was
suspended from his neck by a fine gold chain.
He gently opened the locket, looked long and
lovingly at the small picture it contained, and
then with a heavy sigh he handed the precious
trinket to me. It was the counterpart of the
one that I had safely concealed in my pocket.
As soon as I looked on the beautiful picture it
contained I felt the blood leave my face, and
for a moment I was utterly unnerved.

“In heaven’s name, my dear Fritz, what ails
you, are you sick?” the old hermit excitedly
exclaimed; and then, as if possessed of a mad-
dening suspicion, he sprang to his feet and
seizing my arm in frenzied anguish, cried:

“Tell me, my Fritz, in mercy’s name tell me,
have you ever before seen that face?

Calmly holding the locket in my free hand,
and gazing firmly yet cheerfully into the agon-
ized face of my beloved companion, I com-
mandingly declared,

“Be calm, my dear Count, return to your seat
and give your careful attention to what I have
to say.”

With a groan, the old hermit released my
arm, fell heavily into his chair, and in a husky
whisper he said:

“T am listening, my dear Fritz.”

Slowly, carefully, and in studied detail I told

113

the old hermit the story of my wonderful ex-
periences in the mountain wilderness. Several
times during its rehearsal I was compelled to
raise my hand warningly to quiet the old her-
mit’s almost uncontrollable feelings. When I
finished my story, he sat like a statue in his
chair, as if benumbed with the weight of his
joy ; then, with a sob, he requested me to show
him the little trinket with which I had been
entrusted. When I placed the locket in his
trembling hand he opened it with difficulty be-
cause of his emotion, and when he viewed the
beautiful face that smiled from its golden resting
place, his pent up feelings burst forth in un-
controllable joy.

‘God be praised; it is she, it is she; my lost
darling,” exclaimed the over-joyed father. Then
giving full vent to his emotions, his powerful
frame shook with great sobs of joy.

Fully sharing the old hermit’s great happi-
ness, I patiently waited till he was calm again
before continuing the discussion of the happy
theme.

“ Heaven’s blessing rest on you, my Fritz.
You have been a messenger of peace and happi-
ness to me. Now, when can I go to her, my
dear Fritz?”

“Be patient, my dear Count. We can wait
the full development of my carefully laid plans.
You will remain here, and I will bring her to
your arms in a few sbort hours.”

“ Be it as you decide; I am so happy that a

114

few hour’s waiting will but increase my joy.
You will start at once, my Fritz?”

“ Yes, I will at once leave you, to perfect. my
plans, accompanied by both of these precious
clews. Then I will return in a short time with
the idol of your heart, to fill to overflowing this,
your cup of great joy. Now, good bye; let me
to the completion of this happy task.”

“Good bye, my beloved Fritz, and may
heaven tend you in your mission.”

A short hour after this joyous experience
I was again speeding toward the charming
hills of Pennsylvania’s marvelous wilderness.
About twilight I reached the cosy home of my
late host. Naturally enough, the little family
was delighted to welcome me back again, and
of course surprised by my early return. I told
my kind friends that [ was back on important
business at the Sanitarium.

The next morning I was up and about early,
anxious to perform my duty of love and friend-
ship. Provided with a light lunch, and warn-
ing my host that [ would probably return late
in the day, I wandered ‘on through the inspir-
ing influences of the wonderful wilderness to-
ward my destination. Believing there must be
a private road leading directly to the Sani-
tarium, I sauntered along at the base of the
elevation on which the institution stood, till
finally I found a good, level road, with gradual
ascent, and this I decided was the regular car-
riage way to and from the Sanitarium. This

115

path was far easier climbing than the one I
followed during my previous visits, so, when [
reached the top of the high bluff I was but
slightly fatigued.

As the sun was but at the meridian when I
accomplished the ascent of the bluff, I wandered
along over the beautiful grounds till I found a
spring of sparkling water, half concealed amid
a cluster of young maples. Here I decided to
refresh myself with my lunch and Nature’s
purest, most wholesome beverage, and after
enjoying a quiet rest proceed on my errand.
An hour passed in delightful retrospect of the
marvelous experiences of the few weeks now
passed, then I decided it was time to seek the
object of my visit.

I followed the now familiar path along the
edge of the bluff, till again I stood before the
almost reverred rustic seat. It was vacant, I
was evidently too early. Deciding that it
would be best to await the young lady in her
favored place of reverie, I made myself com-
fortable, and taking from my pocket my note-
book I was soon absorbed in the pleasurable
exercise of jotting down interesting items of
scientific character noted in the natural wild-
ness of my surroundings. How long I had
been thus engaged I cannot tell, when I was
suddenly startled by a sweet voice from behind
me.

“Back go soon; Oh, you must be the bearer of
tidings.”

116

Quickly rising from my seat I turned about
and stood face to face with the object of my
visit. Her beautiful face was radiant with
happy expectation.

“Oh, please be seated, and tell me quickly
what sent you back to me so soon; have you
learned any tidings of my dear papa?”

“Yes, [am the bearer of some tidings; not
sad in character either. But pray be calm and
patient while I relate to you my interesting
story.”

With almost bated breath, and eyes flashing
with irrepressibly happy expectation my beauti-
ful companion, trained by adversity to patience,
attentively listened to every word of my won-
derful story. Frequently, during its rehearsal
tears welled up into her expressive eyes, till,
when I had completed my tale, she covered her
face with her hands and gave full and natural
vent to her almost overwhelming feelings.
Fully recovering her self possession and looking
into my eyes with inexpressible gratitude she
quietly asked:

“Did you secure a clew to his identity that
will positively remove all doubts of the full
reality of your happy discovery?”

I placed both little lockets in her hand as an
answer to her natural query. She gazed lov-
ingly at these certain proofs of her great good
fortune, and exclaimed.

“Heaven be praised, it is papa—it is surely
my dear papa. Poor dear papa, how grievous-

117

ly he has suffered during my long terrible
absence. Now, sir, kindly tell me, when can
I go to him?”

“To-morrow afternoon we shall take our de-
parture. First acquaint your good friends at
the institution with your great new joy; then
to-morrow morning I will visit you at the
house and satisfy your motherly guardian the
good matron that I and my mission are both
honest and worthy of her fullest confidence.
Afterwards we will take train for home and
happiness.”

At once she arose from her seat, and extend-
ing her trembling little hand, she said.

“T will follow your instructions. I can
never express to you my full appreciation of
your kind sympathy and great assistance.
Now good bye, to-morrow I will see you at the
house.”

For a moment I stood and watched her
graceful form disappear among the trees. My
emotions can be guessed better than described.
Then with joyous heart I rapidly walked home-
ward,

THE RE-UNION.

The following morning I bade the good folks
at the farm-house farewell, and while all Nature
was fully aroused to the charms of a bright de-
lightful day, I turned my steps toward the
Sanitarium. I received a hearty welcome on my

9

118

arrival, from the motherly matron, to whom I
soon gave a full and satisfactory explanation of
my happy errand, and thus gained the good
lady’s confidence and best wishes. It was a
happy trio that sat around the cosy little tea-
table enjoying the noon-meal and discussing
the strange occurrences of the past few days,
After dinner, the carriage was called, and we
were driven to the train. After tender partings,
exchanges of mutual best wishes, promises of
early re-unions, my fair companion and I
boarded the train, and as it slowly pulled out
for its swift flight toward home, we could see
the dear old soul still standing on the platform,
alternately wiping her eyes and waving her
handkerchief in sad farewell.

So busy were our thoughts during our rapid
homeward course that our conversation was but
desultory. My fair companion seemed wrap-
ped in deep reflection, so I realized that I would
be inconsiderate if not presumptious to attempt
to interrupt the course of her quiet meditations
with uncongenial discussion.

Arriving safely at the point where our jour-
ney by rail came to an end, I ordered a car-
riage and we were driven to within ashort walk
of the river’s bank. We soon reached the point
on the mainland where a fine view of the island
could be enjoyed. Here I directed the atten-
tion of my happy companion to the old her-
mitage, and I left her for a short time gazing
intently at her future island home, while I went

119

in search of the boat I had carefully concealed
in the rank growth of water birch and dwarf
willows that skirt the river-side.

It was a delightful twilight when we reached
the island. Petro was busy attending to the
live-stock, so we proceeded immediately to the
house without his knowledge of our arrival.
Ushering my companion into the cozy sitting-
room I at once went in search of the old hermit.
I soon found him in his den gazing lovingly on
the beautiful picture on the wall. He was
nervously delighted to see me.

“You have brought her with you? my Fritz.”

“Yes, my dear Count, she impatiently awaits
you in the sitting-room, allow me the great
pleasure of escorting you into her presence.”

Trembling with suppressed emotion, my be-
loved friend descended the stairs with me and
followed me into the sitting-room. I opened
the door quietly, and stepped inside, thus al-
lowing him a full view of the room. The old
hermit stood motionless on the threshold for a
moment, then with a wild cry of delight he
sprang forward toward the young lady who had
arisen to meet him.

‘“‘ My child, my precious child.”

“Oh my papa.”

These exclamations of inexpressible joy were
all I heard as I quietly retired leaving father
and child clasped in each others embrace. I
leisurely sauntered about the place and finally
I dropped into the favorite rustic seat back of

120

the house, and with pleasantest emotions I here
awaited the happy couple whom I knew would
soon seek me. In a short time, father and
daughter, united again after six long weary
years of terrible separation, left the house and
arm in arm came to join me beneath the oid
oak that had been silent witness to varied and
numerous meetings between the old hermit
and me.

After a most enjoyable half hour of happy
discussion of the great joy that had come to all
of us within a few short days, we returned to
the house, where Petro was preparing the even-
ing meal. I had previously informed him that
we were favored with the presence of a young
lady visitor, a friend of mine, and I warned
him to prepare a meal worthy of the occasion.
He proved equal to the emergency, and soon
summoned us from the “den” to partake of
the evening meal.

The old hermit and his truly happy child
went into the dining-room, while I summoned
Petro to his master’s presence. I soon found
the faithful fellow busy in the kitchen, and led
him into the dining-room, where the other mem-
bers of the party were awaiting him. As I
entered the room I stepped aside and thus gave
Petro a full, clear view of its occupants. Quickly
gazing into the face of his beloved master to re-
ceive his commands, Petro became somewhat
embarrassed by the presence of the beautiful
young lady clinging to his master’s arm. For

121

a moment his dull countenance was a study, as,
with a nervous start, he caught a view of the
young lady’s face; then with a wild cry of un-
controllable joy he sprang forward and _ pros-
trating himself at the young lady’s feet he
poured out in a strange foreign tongue, his
native speech, a hearty and joyous welcome.
Anita tenderly responded to his vehement joy
and bade him arise to his feet that she might
look into his beaming face. Poor old Petro, he
was almost beside himself with exuberant Joy.

Well, my tale is nearly told. A short happy
year soon passed at the hermitage, when at its
close, Anita and I persuaded the old hermit to
dispose of his island home, and consent to
brighten the home nest that was in course of
preparation for us, so cozily nestled among the
wildest charms of Pennsylvania’s most pictur-
esque country. Petro and Pluto also joined
our happy household and as we now look back
over the marvelous experiences of but a few
short years we cannot but declare

** There is a divinity that shapes our ends,
Rough hew them how we will.”

FINIS.

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