Uncle Dick and Lisa's Old Time Animal Tales

     This seems to be the time of year when snakes are most abundant. We learn from Mr. A. J. Hoffman, who lives in the north part of the county, that on the last Friday, as one of the hired men was going down a small gulch, he came upon a perfect nest of squirming reptiles, the ground being covered with little and big coils of black, shinning bodies that were taking a sunning. Knowing the habits of these reptiles, the man went back to the farm and reported to Mr. Hoffman what he had seen, when it was decided to wait until evening, after the snakes had retired to their hole, and endeavor to kill them off. Just after sundown both men repaired to the place, to find not a vestige or tail of a snake to be seen, but found well-beaten trails which had been made this early in the season by the immense number of reptiles which had made their nest in the gulch. By following up this trail for a few rods they came to a hole in the ground about the size of a bucket, which went down slantingly under the earth. The ground was beaten down as solid as though it had been pounded with a mallet or used as a croquet ground for a whole season. Mr. Hoffman is somewhat acquainted with the habits of these animals, so he stationed the hired man at the mouth of the hole with an iron bar, having a sharp hook on the end, and began hauling out the ugly “critters.” The first to respond to his thrust was one measuring 8 feet and 3 inches in length, and was one of the black snake species. After working for one hour and a half or so, and having draw out 183 snakes, they quit for the day. Next morning before sun up, they began again and drew forth 247 more of the reptiles, when the mine seemed to give out. The rock and soil on top of the nest was then removed and an excavation about the size of a barrel was found. It is supposed that this family of snakes had held possion of the prairies for years, as many measured from nine to twelve feet in length, and were as large round as a good-sized leg.-Appleton [Mo.] Democrat.