Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1873-08-14

l TuE ESExY or rHx SS.xrs.-The An
glo Saxon or Americaa differs from the
sne'e East Indian respecting venera,ion
Tor snakes. He kills the snake and fos-
tiers the hog. who is decidedly the most
inveters.e snake-killer Of the two. When
the Anglo American undertakes the set
nement OF new country. he wants thres
things above all others: an AZ. rife. and
hog. II he chances to 70 into the viii
derness alone. however, the hos soon
ieesicwz n an iaesitahle coaSs 3usnoe.--
just in proportion As the hog mritiplics
and increases in q new country, IN The
same ratio do serpents and poisonous reg
u'es disappear. 1t is not meant to ba
implied tha. any such motive as snake, Kill.
ling enters into the calculations ofthe from
t'ersman in raising hogs. In general, he
does not give the snakes that may infest
his neighbor thought He kills them
when they come into his way, and forge,s
them. The hog does the most of that
sort Of work. He is q most industrious
torager. always roofing around in quest of
something to eat. In his search for prov
ender he oftentimes dis,urbs the suake.in
his lair. who as rule would prefer to bs
iett alone; but the hog won't let him alone.
but snaps him between his teeth, crushcs
and devours him.
There arc also active enemies of the
snake to be found among tae things that
are ferr ndtur1. such rs the deer. the
elk. etc. which kill By crushing him be-
meath their sharp hoofs. Ba. these ami.
mails only destroy the snake when he
comes in their way. The hog goes n.
him with the two-fold incentive Of destroy-
ing an enemy and devouring him. The
result Is the snakes give up the contest
after a while snd glide off to some rocky
fassness or impenetrable fen. The hog Is
almost impervious 70 the bite Of the most
deadly serpent. Like the hero of Greek
able he has but one assalablc spot. which
les, not in his heel. but in his neck
II the snake chances 20 strike him on the
main artery. where it passes the neck
,"Tr the skin: the hog dies. If he strikes
iim at any other point the wound amounts
o no more than the prick Of pin would.
he virus taking no effect whatever. The
luadfuped seems to be aware of this ono
iapger. and guards against it with the
kill of n veteran warrior.
The writer once witnessed combat be.
ween SOW and ra.tlesuakc of the lare.
st kind. his attention being attracted to
he scene by the angry screams of the hog.
he snake lay in col! beneath q spreading
're oak. The broad, combativc head
Ias raised rigidly about six inches over
is coiled body, his ewes. bright "a A;,.
'onds. flashing fury. and his forked tongue
arting defiance at his enemy. Every
'uscle, now in tention, could be traced
eneath his skin, while his tail, slightly
,ecsed and tremulous with nervous eucr-
y, gave forth from the tapering rattle at
extremity that peculiar, sharp, ring.
g sound person never forgeis who
as heard it once. The SOW, with bris-
es erect and tusks bare, circled round
e snake. gnashins her teeth, grun.ing
Id snarling at him with rage. She
lowed game, but nothing like the nerve
her sinewy antagonist. The SOW made
vers demonstrations and feints, to which
e snake responded BY striking from half
ii. but each time instantly recovering
mself. At length. the SOW coming with.
his reach, the snake made q desperate
ring Of his entire length. fastening his
ngs in her fore leg as she sprang away
'm him. The SOW gave an agonized
ueal. but quickly disengaged herself.
d before the snake could recover his coil
r feet was on his neck, and in another
slant she had snapped of his head.