The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1877-08-18
The Deadly Rattler-His Habits and
His Enemies.

FLORIDA Correspondence New York SUM-
The genuine rattlesnakes grow to
monstrous size, and their colors are more
brilliant than those of the Northern
species, They have been killed twelve
feet long, and as large around as a stove
pipe. Captain Devall, of Palatka, AYERS
that he saw one, twenty odd years ago,
with forty-seven rattles Incredible as
this may seem, Colonel Pratt, of the
Palatka Herald, declares that he has
seen one with fifty-two. These serpents
frequent high, sandy ridges and occa-
sionally Turk in the gardens and ia
plowed fields. They have even been
known to make their way into barns and
houses. The larger rattlers are said to
follow herds of cattle. Cow boys say
that they smell the milk dropping from
the udders of the cows, and take up the
trail, with view to milking them. This
is done while the cows are lying on the
ground chewing their cuds. When the
serpent takes the teat in his mouth, the
cow stops chewing, and becomes as still
as death. Thus she remains until the
scaly thief is satisfied. She seems to
know that the least motion would be
fatal. One snake has been known to
milk two cows successfully.
A remarkable story is that told con-
corning the wife of Judge Connor, of
Live Oak Hill. She is deaf, and this
intensifes natural dread OF rattle
snakes, as she cannot hear their notes of
warning. Some time ago her husband
and neighbor were doctoring sick
colt She was standing in the path,
holding some camphor and bottle of
liniment. She felt something cold and
scaly coiling around her leg. Drawing
aside her dress and looking down, she
saw rattlesnake gazing steadily in her
face, slipping out its red tongue, and
waving its head to and fro as high as
her hand The blood rolled away from
her heart. She screamed, and jumped
aside so spasmodically that the snake
lost its hold and was left on the ground.
1t is possible that the serpent was try
ing to fascinate her; but her deafness
barred out its low musical sound
The enemies of the rattlesnake in
clude the hog, the deer, and the eagle
The hog thrusts his fat chops into the
snakes face, meekly receives its bite,
seizes the reptile by the neck, places its
hoofs on its body, and tears it asunder
No blood is drawn, the poison is harm
less in the fat, and the porker gets fair
meal. A drove of hogs will clear the
widest country of rattlesnakes. When
a buck sees RATHER, he springs upon it
like lightning, bringing his feet together
upon its head and body, thus cutting it
to pieces; for the hoofs of Floridian
deer are as hard and sharp as razor.
An eagle kills the snake while it is sun
ming itself. The bird descends with the
velocity of an arrow, striking the rep
tile with such force as to sever the
vertebr9.
But the deadliest foe of the RATHER is
the common black snake. He grows
very long, and, unlike his Northern COM
peer, never assails a human being. The
RATHER fears and shuns him; and we'll he
may, for the black snake is as agile and
quick as the mainstring of watch, and
as full of fight as bulldog. Meeting
his antagonist, he attacks him without
delay. After coiling and sounding an
alarm, the RATHER keenly watches its as
sailant. At first the black snake slowly
glides around its spiral enemy, as though
studying its weak points. He frequently
Kisses and increases his speed with each
circle, ever keeping an eye on the rat
tier. The latter twists it's head with
every revolution of its assailant.
Swifter sweeps the black snake around
the circle. At the full bent of his speed
the rattler grows dizzy. In twinkling
it is caught by the throat, and the coils
of the two snakes are intermingled.
The contest is decided by main strength.
AS they writhe in the grass the superior
prowess of the black snake is manifest.
The RATHER is slowly strangled. Some
times its body is swallowed, but this
does not always follow. The coach
whip, long, clean-cut snake, frequently
assists the black snake, and instances
are given in which a dozen coach-whips
and black snakes joined forces and
killed small regiment of rattlers.
Vultures and buzzards, with all their
appetite for carrion, will never touch
anything bitten by rattlesnake; but
when his snakeship himself is killed,
they devour him with the greatest relish