The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1850-11-02
II|N n 10 IL -I3Is' .lI7I-7lI
ADVENTURES WITH SNAKES.

One afternoon, in an uufrcqucutod part
not far from Montcrio,siN or scycu blackhirl.,
with a white spot bctwNt the shoulders, were
lu-llit. rrrr T'rs -T 70 and lru on the
lower branehe, of tree ia an RhaAdonrd
wccd-grown, orange orchard. In the long
grass underneath the tree, apparently a pale
green gTs',hoppcr was iiuttcringa as though il
had got cntanglcd in 1t. When YOU once
fancy that the thing YOU are looking at i, real
~ what 5ti take II Tor, tho uiurc yuu hook 4;
IT the more you are convinced it's so. In the
present case, this was prasshoppcr beyond
all doubt; and nothing more remained 10 be-
done but 10 wait in patience I'LL it had settled
in order that you might run NO nix of break
ing its legs in attempting to lay hold of it
while IL was iluttcring-it still kept dnlter-
ing; and having quietly approached it,intcnd-
ing 10 make sire it-r-hchold, the head OF .
large ratilr+snakc Appeared in the grass close
by: an instantaneous spring backwards pre-
vented fatal consequences. What had been
taken for grasshoppcr was, in fact, the cle-
Vatcd rattle of the snake in the act of announc-
/ ing that he was quite prepared, though un.
willing to make a sure and deadly SPRING
! lie shnrtl after PASSED lo.,ls from under ia,
orange trep- ta tho -r..esll-sri4,e ,saaa H.,
side of hill; as he moved over place bar,
of grass and weeds, he appeared to be abou
eight feet long it was he who had engager
the attention of the birds, and made then
needless of danger from ANOTHER quarterthe,
flew away on his retiring; one alone left hi
little life in the air, destined to become
specimen mute and motion e--, iar tha la
spcction Of the CURIOUS in ti,r distant cline
Time and experience have convinced IN,
that there j. not much daaeer-iH rowing a
mongst snakes and wild beasts. provided ON
ly that YOU have sclt-cumuAnd. You mus
never approach them abrupJy II so, you ar
sure to pay for your rashncss; because tn
idea of seli-dciencc is predominant in ever,
animal; and thus the snake, to defend himscl
from what he considers an attack upon him
make the intruder feel the deadly effect of hi
poisonous iangs. The jaguar flies at YOU AN,
knocks you senscless with stroke of hi
paw; whereas if you had not como upon hiu
two suddenly, it is ten to ono Int that he ha,
retired, in lieu of diSputing the path wit
you. The Labarri snake is very poisonou,
aud I have often approached within two yard
,,ff HIM without t,aE--l / took care to moy
very softly and gently without moving m
arms, and he always al lowed me to have
fine view of him. without showing the lea.
+iinCttnatfon to make spring at me. II
would appear to keep his eye fixed ON me, a
I though suspicious, hut that was all Som,
, times | have taken stick ten feet long an
placed it on the I.abaFri's back. He woui
then glide away without Offering rcsistanc,
, But when l put the end of the stick abrupt
to his head. lac itlsHeAiatdl y opened ltis mout
aew at it and bit it..
One day, wishftl to SIT how the poiso
comes ont Of the fang of the snake, ! caught
3 LaLarri alive. lie was about eight feet lon,
p | held him by the neck, and my hand was .