Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1850-12-12

henu vi tue ldIScsl vi tle HNc sHdhes "H'Cn
were kept there the snake was changing It's
skin, consequently, being nearly blind, t0r the
skin of the eye is changed with the rest it dart
ed at the fowl, but missed it, and seized The
keeper by the left thumb, coiling around his arm
and neck ina moment, and fixing itself by itself
greater power. Mr.. Cops, who was alone, did
not lose his presence of mind, and Immediately
attempted to relieve himself from the powerful
construction by getting at the snakes head but
the serpent hnd so knotted itself upon its own
head, that Mr.. Cops could not reach it, and had
thrown himself upon the floor in order to grnp-
pie with greater success with his formidable op-
ponent, when. fortunately, two other keepers
came in and rushed to the rescue. The strug-
gle even then was severe, but at length they
succeeded in breaking the teeth of The serpent,
and relieving Mr.. Cops from his perous stua-
ton two broken teeth were exricated from his
thumb the wounds soon healed, and no further
inconvenience followed,
Still more severe was the contest which took
place between a negro herdsman, belonging tC
Mr. Gibs n, for many years Governor at Fort
William, on the coast of Africa. This man wa
seized by huge python while passing throug'
a wood. ! he serpent fixed its fangs in his
thigh, out in attempting to throw himself rOu nd
his body, fortunately became entlngled with a
tree, and the man being thus preserved from
state OF compression which would instantly have
enough to cut with large knife which he car
ried about him, deep gashes in the neck an.
throat of his antagonist. thereby killing him ant
disengagng himself from his frightrul situation
He never afterward, however, recovered the us,
OF the limb, which had sustained considerable in
Jury from the fangs and mere force of the jaws
and for many years limped about the Fort,
living example of the prowess Of these feahu
serpents
The true boa, 1t is to be observed, are restrict
eeto America the name python being given to tn
large serpente of Africa and India. ltls relate
by Pliny that the army of Regulus was alarmed
by serpent, one hundred and twenty three fee
in length. This account is doubtiul but ther
is well authenticated instance of the destruct
ion of snake above sixty two feet long, Will
in the act of coiling Itself round the body of
man. The snakes OF the gardens will general
be found coied aud twlned together in cluster
| DrO I,lu for tho In nf unr,ntb TOr
knew an instance in which no less than thrice
hundred oil our English harmless snakes wer
found in an old lime kiln The battle whic
ensued can be much better imagined than de:
cribed.
The cobras, putf.adders, and some of the othC
tnighiy venouno"s serpcnts, are principally foUn
in the rocky and sandy places, and very danger
Gus they are. Mr.. Gould, the eminent ornltho
ogist, had n most narrow escape OF his lite whe
in the interior OF Australia is a serpel
fonnd in these arid wastes, whose bite is fat
in an incredibly short time, and it springs at a
object with great force Mr.. Gould was lit
in advance of his party when suddenly a natl,
who was with hun screamed out" On, mass5
/ dere big snake" Mr.. Gould started, and pu
t ting his foot in a hole, nearly fell to the groun
Al that instant the snake made its spring, al
! had it moi been ior his stumble, would huvo stru,
him in his face; us it was, it PASSED over i
f head, and was shot before 1t could do any furt
J er mischief 1t was large snake Of the mt
1 venomous sort, and the natives gathered rou
, the sportsman, anxiousy inquiring lfit had b
Y ten him. Finding it had not all said they thu
i he was " good for dead, when they saw the re
5 tile spring,