The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-01-25
Rattlesnakes in Canada,

There is little to fear from wild animals in
the bush In Canada. The deer were too fright
ened to trouble us, and, though | have some
stories to tell about bears and wolves, they
were go seldom seen that they did not give
us much alarm. Bat was always afraid of
the rattlesnakes, especially in the long grass
that grew in some wet places never saw
but one, however, and that was once, years
after, when was riding up a narrow road
that had been cut through the woods. Ny
horse was at walk, when suddenly, it made
a great spring to one side, very nearly unseat-
ing me, and then stood looking at low bush
aud trembling in every limb. The next mo-
ment heard the horrible rattle, and my horse
commenced set OF leaps from one side to the
other, backing all the while,s and snorting
wildly. / could not getlof and as little could
/ get my horse turned away so great was his
fear. Two men luckily came up just at this
time, and at once saw the cause Of the poor
brnte's alarm, which was soon ended by one
of them making dash at the snake with a
thick stick, and breaking its neck at a blow.
Henry told us that once he was chased by one
which he had disturbed, and can easily credit
it, for have seen smaller snakes get very in
furiated, aud If one was alarmed, as ia Henry's
case, it might readily glide after him for some
distance. However, it Jared badly in the end,
for a stick ended its days abruptly. i was
ridiculous enough. A good man moving in
his field, in the summer costume of hat, shirt,
and boots, found himself to his horror, face to
tace with rattlesnake which, on his Instant
ly throwing down his scythe and turning TO
hee, sprang at his shirttails and fixed his fangs
in them inextricably. The next spring-the
cold body Of the snake struck against his legs,
making him certain he had been bitten. He
was q full mile from his house, but despair
nrKth a.
over logs, iences, everything-the snake dash.
ing against him with every jump, till he reach
ed his home, into which he rushed, shouting,
The snake the snake the snake! I'm bitten,
Pm bittenP OF course they were all alarmed
enough, but when they came to examine. the
terror proved to be the whole of the injury
suffered, the snakes body having been knock
ed TO pelees on the way, the head, only re-
manning fixed in the spot at which i had
originally sprung. David and Henry ware
one day at work in our field, where there were
some bushes close to stump near the fence
The two were near each other when the for
ner saw number of young rattlesnakes ~
Henry's side, and as good joke, for we lauph.
ed at the danger, it seemed SO slight cried
out Henry Henryl look at the rattle.
snakesp at the same time mounting the fence
TO the highest rail to enjoy Henrys panic.
But the young ones were not disposed to
trouble any one, so that he instantly saw that
he had nothing to fear; whereas, on looking
toward David, there was quite enough to turn
the laugh the other way, Look at your feet,
Davidr followed in an instant, and you may
easily imagine how quickly the latter was
down the other side of the fence, and away to
a safe distance, when, on doing as he was told,
he saw the mother of the brood poised below
him for spring, which, but for Henry, she
would have made the next moment. H
Pigs have a wonderful power OF killing
snakes, their hungry stomachs tempting them
10 attack for the sake of eating their bodies.
dou't know that they ever set on rattlesnakes,
but friend of mine saw one with the body of
a great black snake, the thickness ofhis wrist,
and four or Ave feet loug, lying over its back,
Monsieur Pig converting the whole into pork
as fast as he could, by vigorously swallowing
Joint after joint.--Lits in the Woods.