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Water Moccasin or "cotton-mouth" Snake — Part 2
On entering the swamp we followed the stream. Conditions were found to be in favour of snake-hunting. The stream was very low, owing to a drought, and in stretches here and there was little more than a series of pools, connected by trickling courses of water. The banks of these pools were sandy and progress into the swamp was comparatively easy in consequence. Not long after starting into the growth, we spied the first Moccasin. It was a large specimen, sunning on a log that projected from the water. This snake was stalked cautiously, and a noose, on the end of a very slim pole, was passed over its neck before it took alarm. The reptile was pulled quickly upon firm ground where its head was pinned down with a stick, when it was grasped by the neck and placed in a bag. In stepping over a fallen tree, the guide had a narrow escape. Coiled partially under the trunk was another Moccasin, which, suddenly surprised, drew back its head, opened its mouth and prepared to strike, but before it could do so the man leaped to safety.
This habit of the Moccasin, when surprised, of opening its mouth, with head drawn, and disclosing the white mouth-parts, has been responsible for the name of "cotton-mouth" snake, used in many parts of the South. After assuming this attitude, the snake shakes its tail vigorously, not with the rapid tremble of the rattlesnake, but in a slower, beating fashion, with much the same rhythm as the tapping of a woodpecker against a tree.
Several dozen Moccasins were observed during the course of the morning. It was noted that when these snakes were suddenly startled by our coming upon them after rounding thickets of cane or the like, they drew back their heads, opened their mouths, and glared in hostile fashion. Occasionally a snake would strike viciously, but after the first start of surprise, all endeavoured to glide away and escape. With one accord the snakes that observed us when some little distance away, made for the water and escaped, except for an occasional specimen that unwisely poked its head from the muddy water to see if danger was past. As they were noosed and grasped by the neck, they behaved like all poisonous snakes, in viciously resenting the familiarity.
Upon nearing the centre of this swamp, we found many pools that had dried. These contained large quantities of dead and shrivelled fish, while in the pools left by the uneven drying of the stream, living fish appeared to be very rare. This scarcity of food seemingly created an uneasiness among the harmless Water Snakes of the swamp which were found restlessly prowling. Indeed, many of them had left the swamp, and had wandered down the sandy roads along its borders. The appearance of several of these showy snakes on the nearby roads had primarily led the writer to believe that the swamp itself contained many, hence the exploration.
The drying up of the water appeared in no way to annoy the Moccasins. Some of them were found contentedly coiled on the borders of pools scarcely more than a yard in diameter. These latter snakes, finding it impossible to seek shelter in the water, glided among the roots of trees or among the canes. It was a specimen captured under such conditions that revealed, possibly, the reason for the apparent contentment of the Moccasins during the lack of fish, for as we caught him he disgorged two harmless Water Snakes, which had been consumed but a short time. It should be here understood that the Moccasin, unlike the innocuous Water Snakes, does not confine its diet to cold-blooded prey, but feeds also upon birds and small mammals.