Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1874-01-15
GALLIPOLIS OHIO, THURSDAY, JANUARY Is, 1874.

rlnie OF reptiles, is far more active
than the corale. 1t may be observed
also, in passing, that slowness o.
movement is by no means an entire
protection to US. I should say, on
the whole, that more persons are
killed By "corales" than by any
snake that lives in the forest. The
poor thing can't glide away when II
hears steps approaching, and if a
man put his foot upon it while has
tening to escape with all its little
speed, what csn the most amiable
snake do but bite? For, will admit
it openly, l am fond of the creatures
in q certain sense! / have killed
hundreds of the venomous; | have
tanned the pretty and harmless; I
have kept many species. and watched
them carefully; and | assert that
dangerous reptiles are the most ex.
citing study man can have; they
are 80 strange and beautiful and
deadly.
''Now fot the fascination!' ]
thoaght, when the corale came fairly
out. gliding with slow and labored
motion, and carrying its head higher
than do most sepents. But the qua
tuso. though evidently frightened,
showed none of the signs that are
said TO accompany fascinstion. He
looked round piteously, calling his
note Of alarm without ceasing, but
the little creature evidently knew his
pursuer's slowness The mystery
was soon explained. When the
corale had arrived within three or
four feet of his victim. an easy spring
for any other serpent, a second head
was thrust from the nest in answer to
repested calls of distress. Now"
said to myself, "we shall perhaps
verify another legend The corale
does not apparently fascinate the
guatuso, but possibly the female
guatuso will fight the corslr "a, they
say. sometimes Happens" So II
made q bargain with myself If the
rabbitdare to show fight in defense
of her young, will interfere; if not,
snake has an equal right TO live
with any other animal.
But it could be seen that the poor
guatusos had no more intention of
confirming jungle legends than had
the corale; they showed no fight at
all. The male hoped hither and
ihither, frantic with. terror, while
the female crouched over her nest
trembling. Silent and deadly as an
evil spirit the snake glided on. His
scarlet rings faded and glowed by
turns, now shining like the brightest
sealiugwax, now dying into dull
orange. When within fifteen inches
of the guatuso, a corale's leap, he
seemed to panse. as if mcditating
spring. but the next instant his
steady crawl was resumed Then
the mothers instinct showed itself
stronger than any thought of safety
With faint cry that seemed to bid
her mate last farewell, the doe qua
tuso plunged into the recess, and the
long. jewelled body of the snake
flashed after her.
A faint struggle in the holes
mouth! Then the rablt leaped out
weakly, bearing around her neck a
brighter, daintier necklace than ever
eweler could enamel. Within a foot
Of the entrance she rolled over; the
snake unwound itself rapidly, looked
1T the cowardly mate with dilated
eyes, hissed at him sharply in man
ler that wonld have been comic in a
ess terrible creature, then glided l
back to its meal under the cairn
rhe bitten guatuso struggled for
on the ground, and then died s
n seeming great agony.
stepped forward in haste Dis
appointed by the corale in the matter I
IF fascination, by it's victim in the
natter of fighting, there was still :
rope to confirm a third legend as to
he effect of this snakes venom. t
drew my bowie and cut the rabbits '
hroat, severing both jugular and e
;arotid; not drop of blood flowed! 9
rhe story, then, which all believe in I
he jungle, that coral bite
instantly solidifies the blcod, is true.
rhe arteries we're filed with a thick,
purple jelly.