I got the biggest kick out of this episode, probably because as a kid, I was an avid collector of frogs, toads, salamanders, turtles, and yes, even snakes. I even had a copy of that book Hansel Eidelpfeiffer (Michael J. Pollard) showed to Hermie Jenkins (Harry Morgan). It was called a "A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians". So when thoughts of killing his wife (Barbara Baxley) turned to acquiring a poisonous snake, I was already prepared to see a story about the easily misidentified coral snake/scarlet king snake scenario play out with an unpredictable twist ending. That it did, but not in the way one might expect, as Hansel pulled a fast one on Hermie, and sold him the harmless variety. Poor Hermie, his visions of a carefree and idle future turned on a dime when he died of fright!
It wasn't unusual for that king snake to make a quick getaway after it bit Hermie. One of the snakes I caught was a pencil thin milk snake about eight inches long with similar coloration when I was about ten years old. What I didn't count on was how it could squeeze it's way out of the only opening that provided an air hole in it's container. I never did tell my parents, and the little guy never showed up again, allowing a sigh of relief after a couple of days.
By the way, a quick way to stay clear of coral snakes is this little rhyme - 'red touching black, safe for Jack. Red touching yellow, kill a fellow'. Not that you'd need it, but you never know.
It wasn't unusual for that king snake to make a quick getaway after it bit Hermie. One of the snakes I caught was a pencil thin milk snake about eight inches long with similar coloration when I was about ten years old. What I didn't count on was how it could squeeze it's way out of the only opening that provided an air hole in it's container. I never did tell my parents, and the little guy never showed up again, allowing a sigh of relief after a couple of days.
By the way, a quick way to stay clear of coral snakes is this little rhyme - 'red touching black, safe for Jack. Red touching yellow, kill a fellow'. Not that you'd need it, but you never know.
