The Louisiana cotton-boll. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], Attakapas, La.) 1872-1883, 1875-08-25

His SHa5ccts-PapdomoH5aB Let Loose-An
InterogtiHs Group Of Saakes-A Battle orcr
ID Ra6bl6
Near the hour of twop. m. on any day
except Sunday the visitor at Central
Park geological gardens, New York,
may witness the feeding of the animals.
| Sundays are excepted, because, says
Mike, the keeper, Sunday is q ''fasting
day with the critters" The c%arnivores
need this periodic interval for their
health. Meat eating creatures naturally
gorge themselves, if possible, aud then
lie down to rest, whereas good digestion
waits on appetite, and health on both.
So. says Mike, we help them to an OBJ.
servance of their normal condition once
a week. Empty stomachs for Sunday.
The feeding time brings O vision Of
pandemonium no conception of 1t IS
possible until it is witnessed. Brute
nature, as well as human nature, shrinks
from responsibility, even in the matter
of eating and drinking. Anxious and
expectant as the brutos are, they all
seem to derend on the old Asiatic lion
to announce the coming forage. They
get FESTIVE in their way, but it is quite
plain that they look to him fora definite
impulse. The king of beasts, at this
interesting period, crouches with much
dignity and looks steadily through the
big window towards the arsenal door.
All eyes are fixed at him. At the first
sign from him all is uproar, tumultuous
plunging and roaring the heavy and
quick strides of the lions and tigers jar
their cages fearfully the leopards leap
and plunge over and under each other,
and execute most wonderful vaulting.
Each creature has its characteristic
movement. Meantime the air is rent
by unearthly yells, among them none
more strange than the voice of the ny
enas, which canter in a most ludicrous
| style up and down the cage and laugh
HISTORICALLY. They laugh-that is the
only word to express it-yet the sound
is like the continuous squeaking of an
upright steam saw, slightly interrupted
at intervals as if some hardk net arrested
its progress. All, this time the little
elephants have been pumping and stir.
ring the air, and looking as if they were
trying on the last new waltz, OF the
larger animals the bears are the most
deliberate and demure ; they do not par
ticipate in the general excitement, which
is mostly confined to the strictly carniv-
| orous animals.
The pumas are somewhat deliberate
in their actions, but they compensate by
an occasional yellthat breaks throughall
other sounds and fairly chills the blood
an enlarged caterwauI, pitched on a
demoniac key. The magnificent jaguar
the South American tiger-is also
digni6ed in his bearing. Conscious of
great power, he takes his share of food
as his right, and eats deliberately, as
becomes his rank.
All is. quiet now, save the low snarl
OF a selfish brute, or the crushing
sounds of mastication. Some hungry
jaws are grinding the very bones. Not
every day can one see serpents fed
but we were fortunate in being present
on one of the notable occasions when
Mr.. Conklin announced that he had q
litter of newborn rabbits to "feed out"
The snakes, responsive to the late
cheerful advance in temperature, had
petitioned for sustenance. In O large
glass cage, situated on the grass border
neal the sea lions, are several rattle
snakes, Florida serpents, and black,
snakes from our northern pastures.
The genial warmth of the sun, height
ened by the glass cover, had stimulated
serpentine life into quite hopeful actiY-
ity. Mike produces the desired prov
ender, and the reptiles ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
kindness. There is q very perceptible
awakening, and immediately on the
entrance of the rabbits the black heads
are seen lifted above the rank growth
of clover that lines the cage. Amarked
difference is noticed between the snakes.
The rattle snakes are inert, lying at
length, and passively Selling their prey
as it approaches Thorn.
The blacksnakes, on the contrary,
all attention !; their heads are raised as
if listening to the tread of the prey.
at sight of it they stretch forward with
open mouth and strike. To take their
prey headforemost-which they invari-
ably do-they execute some maneuyers,
being ready to coil around the victim if
need be. His coiling is characteristic
of the b~lacksnake, as we had an oppor-
tunity to witness on this occasion. One
of the blacksnakes had swallowed a
rabbit, and peered about for more his
eye fell upon the half-swallowed prey of
the rattlesnake, which was quietly
enjoying the slow but sure process OF
saliva coating his evening meal. With.
out ceremony the blacksnake seized the
rattlesnake by the throat and demanded
q disagreement. The r~attlesnake, in
stolid manner, refused, but made
no demonstration. He lay at length
and evidently trusted to his powers of
endurance and his fearful fangs for
protection. His antagonist now re-
leased his hold and seized the part of
the prey left outside, sensibIy concIud-
ing that 10Y or never he had a chance,
for the inwardly inclined teeth Of the
rattlesnake are surely sending the
mOrsel out of sight forever. A violent
succeeds no better, and now he
sends coil upon coil around the
rattlesnake, putting in operation his
power. The rattlesnake keeps
his hold with praiseworthy tenacity, his
eyes fash with rage !; his head is
swollen to the utmost. His ~assailant is
thoroughly In earnest he is all action.
q great commotion is aroused among
other snakes. The member from
retires to the gallery the
second rattlesnake is awakened into
by the plaintive cries of the
lalt swallowed rabbit and the black
makes are darting through the green
grass and clover in search of more
prey.
"A crowd of interested spectators had
collected. There was now q first
ate "snake fight" at hand, certainly.
md there seemed to us no reason to
loubt that the blacksnake would win by
rushing the other to death. We were
doomed to disappointment for the
hearted Mike could not see his
ret endangered to crafty. us, and he
wisely essayed to ''pRrt EN-" This
vas a task of no little difficulty. He
a hole through the coils of the
,lacksnake and shook him vigorously
or a whole. At last the reptile released
liz hold I
1t is urged by some naturalists that {
he blaeksnake does not exert a crnsh.