Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-08-02

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TIE MosT Poisonous OF SNAKEs.-No
member of the animal creation is so universally
hated and feared as the snake. The curse pro-
nouucel upon that serpent in the garden Of
Eden, still cleaves to the whole race.
The most powerful, as well as the most dan
ccrous of all snakes. is the Boa Constructor.
This reptile is mostly found in Africa. When
at liberty, it is lazy never hurries itself except
when it darts like lightning upon its prey. Peo-
pIe affirm that it can spring high enough from
the ground to reach man on horseback. ln
the daytime it generally lies quite still in the
bushes or in high grass. At night it craws
round about, approaching human dwellings in
search of mice or the like, and often doing much
mischief. 4 woman in Transvaal, leaving her
house one night in the dark, trod upon boa
constructor lying before the door, was bitten, and
died the next day.
Still more dangerous is this serpent to graz
ing sheep or tc huntsmen's dogs. a gentleman
in BIoonlfontaine once lost two of his dogs at
the same time from one of these poisonous rep
tiles: one died within ten minutes, the other
few hours, after the bite.
4 very observant naturalist relates that he
was once walking in field, and remarked dur
ing his wanderings that one OF the large, South
African field mice was sitting little distance
before him motlonless, as if rooted to the spot.
As he looked round, wondering at the cause
which prevented the tlmld annual FROM t1eelng
from him. he saw close before it an immense
hoa-ccnstrictor who had chosen the mouse Tor
itS prey, and would not let it out of its sight.
Shortly after, the snake suddenly made sprlng,
seized the mouse, and vanished with it into
hole close by, before the astonshed spectator
was able to use his stick.
Another traveller says II have lain in the
Bcschuaua land close to boa-constrlctor which
had rolled itself up in the lofty grass for more
than half an hour without its moving. When
to escape the sun moved little, and was just
about to put my elbow on it, perceived 1t. |
got up cautiously 10 order to grasp we'll my
thick cudgcl; the snake remained motoness.
\ we'll aimed blow from my stick, however,
soon made it harmless forever.
The two boa, constructors in the Berlin aqua
rum" says the director Of that establishment,
81 bought from snake-tancier in Berlin, who
had had them for some time There was no
trace of tameness iu them. Their fury was shown
by their putting and blowing as soon as
anv one approached their cage. Their transfer
into the new cage destined for them was by no
means an easy natter they had at last to be
driven in by force, and, among other MEANS
strong pair Of bellows was employed to blow
them in.
but when they got into their new house,
which was we'll warmed, they soon seemed COM
Portable and quite at home. They showed some
curiosity at first, taking cautious survey OF
their cage, smelt and licked all the corners with
their tongues When they discovered the wa
ter-basin they at once drank eagerly; they then
settled themselves to sleep.
''rhey often lay motionleSs from morning to
night in the same place, and in the same posi-
ton At night, however. when serpents are a.
ways more lively, they generally crawled slowly
round and round their cage They did not
trouble themselves in the least about the other
snakes, whom they could see in the adjoining
cases through their glass walls When one OF
these reptiles was allowed to pass into their
cage, and crawled about over them, they did
not seem to object to this society.
These snakes will never eat the rabbits and
other animals given them for food if they are
not hungry, and very little food seems to salts
fly thcm We have found that one young rab-
bit week is enough nourishment for a full
grow boaconstrictor six feet in length, and al
most as thick as mans thigh. Frequently
two or three weeks would pass away without
our scrpents eating anything. At other times
they would take two rabbits in rapid succession
Formerly they used to be fed after the ac-
quarium was closed, but | now allow them
to be fed before the eyes Of the visi
tors every Wednesday afternoon. The rabbit
destined as their victim is enclosed in a net,
and then let down from above into the cage:
when it is set at liberty. Once or twice it has
happened that the serpents have bitten their
prey before it reached the bottom Of the cage
but they are generally too indolent to do; so.
The rabbit has no suspicion Of the danger
nquisitivey. 1t has never seen such an ant
NAL before, it's curiosity is therefore excusable.
1t smells at its enemy, still 1t does not know
that it is an enemy.
The serpent raises its triangular head,
bends back its neck, assumes a position Of at
tack which is both very beautiful and very ter
riblc. The rabbit suspects nothlng-lt contln-
ucs smelling, but as it scents nothing, 1t be-
comes bolder and approaches the snake head.
The serpent darts out its tongue, smelling too.
The rabbit, picture OF innocence, still stands
not suspccting any danger before its dreadful
foe, who is now becoming more excited. 1t
breathcs with deep gasps, so that its body rises
and falls, expands and contracts; it suorts too,
iu such way that the rabbit cannot tail to
hear this warning; but this, too, is in vain; the
victim CONTINUES unconscious OF danger.
THE serpent let's its head sink down in or
der to take up another position. Its ribs press
against the ground, working onwards like
hundreds of feet !; it is gliding slowly forw ard.
The rabbit is startled, springs on one side,
raises its eyes sharply upon the object which Is
so unknown to it, prlcks up its ears, and then
compuses itself again Now the serpent lies
motioness, then it approaches its puzzled VIC
tim, again it hifts its head, ready for the at
tack, puts out its tongue, threatens as before.
The rabbit secs the water basin, and takes a
drink, then he makes himself comfortable,
stretching out upon the warm sand, and eating
little OF turnip thrown to him, He seems
uuitc at home in the care he hecomes rash