SNAKE CATCHING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20786, 3 August 1929, Page 31

SNAKE CATCHING.

EXCITEMENT OF THE CHASE. Snake hunting with the aim of “ bagging ” the reptile alive and unharmed is, indeed, an exciting sport. Naturally, the quest is more successful in a district containing snake-infested swamps, and recently at Moira Lakes I had rave oppor* tunities for chasing the tiger snake in its native habitat (states “ Boocock," in the Melbourne Argus)” With strong boots, legs swathed in puttees, and an. observant and wary eye, little need be feared from hiding menaces in swamp land. When creeping quietly through the grass and rushes in the pleasing warmth of the morning, careful progress is necessary, for an alert snake seems to be quickly aware of footstep vibrations, and in no time it is hidden. The excitement increases as the swamp growth becomes denser, and then suddenly a familiar sound catches tire ear. It is a smooth, gliding rustle, tha characteristic noise made by no other creature but a make in the grass. A ■tail disappearing into the reeds is the signal for quid; action. The tip of the tail is seized, and the snake is jerked into the air at arm’s length.

What a transformation then occurs. A few minutes before the snake was peacefully basking in the sunlight. Now. fire seems to flash from the small, ominous eyes, and the neck becomes almost a hood 1 in its flattened condition. From this position it is very difficult for the common venomous snakes to double up and bite the detaining hand, but it is generally my plan of action to tease the reptiles as much as possible before attempting to handle them. -When picked straight off, the ground the infuriated snake twists and doubles in an alarming fashion, and may swing dangerously upwards. Teased with a wellprotected leg, he lunges forward again and again, and soon becomes tired. However, it is not easy to detain the snake and tease him at the same time in swamp country. That is less difficult in the open. When a capture is made a companion opens the snake bag with two sticks, and with a “ flop ” in goes the first specimen. Frequently during such operations a tiger snake has bitten my double army puttees, sometimes leaving crystal drops of the deadliest Australian snake venom on the outer threads of the material. Beyond faint hissing sounds, even a furious tiger snake makes little noise. The real hiss comes from members of the lizard family. . Tiger snakes in the Murray swamps are" infested with worm parasites of the nematode class, and one specimen that we cooked and ate for breakfast had its stomach literally crammed with the pests. Credited or debited with the highest mortality percentage from its bites, the death adder is a short, squat reptile. The hollow fangs are much longer than those of our other venomous snakes, and the amount of venom injected is greater, optunately, this nocturnal snake does not trouble us in Victoria. The tiger snake possesses the deadliest °t Ml, and it is very fortunate that nis fangs are so poorly developed. In captivity < some specimens become very quiet and eagerly accept meals of fresh mice. Bitten mice sit up to clean their disarranged 'fur and drop unconscious in 29 or 30 seconds. In two minutes life is extinct. A golden bell fro'T severely bitten lasted for five m, ®V fce ®- Tiger snakes generally wait until the victim is. dead before eating, but I have seen one which was not very hungry swallow a live mouse. With a constant supply of fre&h air water and sunlightj and fed on mice', they thrive in captivity, requiring onlv a warm place for retirement in cold weather.

The copper-head, or superb snake, common in Southern Victoria, is indeed beautiful. Ranking next to the death adder and third _to the tiger in potency of venom, it is usually very shy and wary, almost as much so as the quick brown snake. Mature while still very small, the copper-head produces its young alive, as do all the common venomous species, with the exception of the egpc-10-yiiig broTTO enake. Some weeks ago I captured a copper-head two feet two inches m length, which contained nine welldeveloped young ones. Wandering through the bush near Ballarat in my early snake days, I- met a very active specimen and dealt it a severe blow with a stick. _ Even , now; this reptile with a claim to distinction is preserved in spirits in my room. Walking homewards 'with the supposedly dead snake in my pocket, I became aware of an unusual movement, and to my horros there was. the copper-head, very much alive, si: ding down towards my leg?. No time was wasted in making sure of the second blow.* Copper-headed snakes are extremely keen on small frogs as a tasty diet. These tiny frogs may be heard calling in an' insistent tinkling note in the autumn season.

These snakes frequently take refuge in water holes when chased, and suspending their respiration are able to remain under water for a. considerable time. I waited on one occasion for half an hour with no sign of a reappearance. \ Pythons, or carpet snakes, belong to quite a different category. Possessing no venom, this constricting snake crushes its prey before making a meal. This species is found in warmer New South Wales and Sieensland, but extends south as far as e Murray, It is generally believed that the feeding of pythons with live creatures is cruel, but I have seen birds perched on the loops, of a carpet snake calmly preening their feathers. Their only moment of terror comes when a hungry snake seizes them. Bronze lizards and mice, on the other hand, show great nervousness at the proximity of a tiger snake. When captured and held near the head the carpet snake coils tightly round the arm of its captor, and the pressure is painful. Sixteen feet is about the maximum length, though, an active ninefoot was strong enough to make its embrace anything but a pleasure.