Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-02-26

physical cause, and that cause is still to
seek. The other side of the argument is
not much studied in the jungle, but it is
somewhat difficult to see why we should
be thus carefully protected from the
cOrale, while the tuboba is allowed to
carry his poison as rapidly as he may
please. Surely it is of little Importance
to any man whether he dies in twenty
minutes or four or five hours, so his death
be equally certain in either case. Most
of us who have necessarily thought upon
the subject seem to prefer the shorter
period. Even the "sangre," the blood
snake, that most rare and horrible OF rep
tiles, is far more active than the corale.
1t NAV be observed also, in passing, that
slowness of movement is by no means an
entire protection to US. | 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 it hears steps approaching,
and, if a man put his foot upon 1t while
fastening to escape with all its little speed,
what can the most amiable snake do but
bite? FOr-I will admit it openly am
fond of these creatures in certain sense!
| have killed hundreds of the venomnus;
| have tanned the pretty and harmless; |
have kept many species, ana watched
them carefully; and l assert that danger
Gus reptiles are the most exciting study
man can have, they are SO strange and
beautiful and deadly.
"Now for the fascination" l thought,
when the corale came fairly out, gliding
with slow and labOred motion, and car
rying its head higher than do most ser
penis But the guatuso, though evident
" frightened, showed none OF the signs
that are said to accompany fascination.
He looked round piteously, calling his
note of alarm without ceaslng, but the
little creature evidently knew his pursu
er's slowness. The mystery was soon ex-
planned. When the corale had arrived
within three or four feet ofhis victim, an
easy spring for any other serpent, sec
ond head was thrust from the nest in an
swer to repeated calls of distress. Now"
said I to myself, Eve shall perhaps verify
another legend. The corale does not ap-
pa1ently fascinate the guatuso, but posi-
bly, the female guatuso will fight the cor
ale, as, they say, sometimes happens" SO
made up bargain with myself. Ii the
rabbit dare to show fight in defense of
her young, I will interfere; if not, snake
has an equal right to live with any other
animal
But it could be seen that the poor qua
tusOs had no more intention Of confirm
ing jungle legends than had the corale;
they showed no fight at all. The male
hoped hither and thither, 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 sealing
wax, now dying into dull orange. When
within fifteen inches of the qua
tuso, a corale's leap, he seemed to
pause, as if meditating spring,
but next instant his steady crawl was re-
sumed 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
guatuso plunged into the recess, and the
long, jeweled body Of the snake flashed
after her.
A faint struggle in the holes mouth!
Then the rabbit leaped out weekly, bear
ing around her neck brighter, daintier
necklace than ever jeweler could enamel.
Within foot of the entrance she rolled
over; the snake unwound itself rapidly,
looked at the cowardly mate with dilated
eyes, Kissed at him sharply in a manner
that would have been comic in less
terrible creature, then glided back to its
meal under the cairn. The bitten
guatuso struggled for moment on the
ground, then died in seeming agony.
I stepped forward in haste. Disappoint-
ed by the corale in the matter of fascina-
ton, by its victim in the matter of fight
ing, there was still hope to confirm third
legend as to the effect of this snakes
venom. drew my bowie, and cut the
rabbits throat, severing both jugular and
carotid: not drop of blood flowed The
story, then, which all believe in the jungle,
that corale's bite instantly solidifies the
blood, is true. The arteries were filled
with thick, purple jelly!-C0map Notes,
BIZ Frederick Boyle.