Rensselaer Republican, Volume 12, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 February 1880 — A Snake Story. [ARTICLE]

A Snake Story.

Mr. Decker Coykendall owns a farm near Libertyville, Sussex County, N. J. Last spring, while passing through a Eiece of wood adjoining his residence, e discovered a small hole in the ground, from which he saw a huge black snake emerge, and afterward jaw another put its head out. Being satisfied that it*was their den, he took .a gun which he was carrying, and, watching the hole a short tune, shot ten large snakes as they came uit. He then decided to let the nest alone until cold weather. A few days ago, in company with two other men, Mr. Coykendall went to the den armed with a pick and shovel. He commenced digging, and, after having got about twelve inches, he came to the snakes. The hole in the ground where they entered was not over two inches in diameter, and at no place did the den measure over two feet in depth; but several holes ran off in different directions from the spot where most of the snakes were discovered. There were no stones in the hole, and the reptiles were simply imbedded in the day. The snakes when found were in a torpid condition,

and, pulling them out one by one, Mr. Coykendall filled a ono-bushel cornbasket and part of a bag wite them. He carried them home, and, after washing them, placed them in a wooden box. There were eighty-eight snakes in all, seventy-six being the common black snake, and twelve the ordinary milk snake. Among the black snakes are several that measure nearly seven feet, and some of them weigh nearly four pounds. This is believed to be the largest capture of snakes ever made at one time in Sussex County, if not in the State.— Montague (N. J.) Cor. N. Y. Times.