The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-07-11
Observation-Disclosures
ANOTHER WITNESS OF THEIR SWALLOWING
POISONOUS SNAKES.


POISONOUS SNAKES.
Editors Dispotch: have long been,
with Won. an admirer Of that excellent rep
tile the king-snake-a prettitr, more harm
less. and more powerful member OF the cor
6, rictcr family than is the common black
snake.
Twill add the following to Mr.. Morrison's
evidence: About the year 1871 was 81
Williams's mill, in Gates county. N. g. The
miller was well acquainted with snakes
having daily opportunity to enlarge his &C.
uuaintance, too-and from him l learned
tbat the kine-snake is perfectly harmless TO
men. lie said he had often gone to it when
coilcd, and running bis hand under the
coiIed body, lifted his snakeship from the
ground and set him down again, without
any hostile demonstration. | have myself
pushed them out OF the way with boat
padtie or stick without provoking either
ill-will or fear.
While at the mill before named the miller
called us one day and said king-snakc had
killed and was swallowing awater-moccasln.
At our desire he ran paddle under the con-
uueror and lifted him and his victim to an
omen space near some large saw-logs on
which we sat. The Hking" was about
three feet long; the moccasin trife less.
The body of the conquered snake bad
crushed appearance, as if he had undergone
painful amount Of huggino. His head and
a considerable portion OF his body just be-
low the neck mud disappeared within the
king-snake's ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS jaws.
His swollen, stuffed appearance gave proof
that it was a heavy job to "chaW" what he
had "Dtten OFF, He lay still for awhile
after being laid III our midst; but finding us
friendly. he renewed operations, doubtless
finding time pressing. The moduS operandt
was simple. Slightly rearing his head and
neck, he distendcd his jaws widely, and
catching with first one corner and then the
other, gave q sort OF wriggle. by which he
hauled himself down upon his enemy's
body. Ec had taken him head forcmostfor
| the evident reason that lie must have the adj
vantage OF the scales; he could never have
| wrirgled in that fashion against their grain.
| The progress was slow but steady, and ere
| long all Of the moccasin was out OF sight
except the three inches or more OF his whip
cord-ike tail. The king then rested awhile.
supposed he would then make finish
| in 4 second, and gobble up the little rem
nant without ceremony. Blu; it proved tn
| be his great achievement. Raising himself
| higher than before, he opened his mouth,
and made for some minutes Il fine picture
OF fellow trying to "throw up his stO.
mach" So true was the simillude to Sc
we're case OF nausea and heaving that be-
gan to think he had taken too much
and was about to return a portion. But on
looking closely iii his body there was 4
packing-down process within il evident
enough. He was, in fact, making room for
the tail. When this was done-and it re-
CURED length Of time out Of all proper
ton to what had gone before-he quickly
licked in the tail and lay gorged and tri-
umphant. After gazing at us for some time
he made his way slowly to the shelter OF
the logs, no man forbidding him, and there
quietly digested what, 1 am sure, was
neither his first nor last moccaSin. This is
the only time l have ever seen the swallow
| ing. It lasted forty minutes. But few
years before the occurrence described ! was
in Albemarle county, at the house OF
| friend near Mediums river. The lady OF
| the house said the servant had just killed
in the garden two large snakes. When
| carried out to see them | was grieved to
see that one was kins-snake four
or five feet long, which had swallowed
half way hugh moccasin or copperhead OF
the very poisonous sort. Had his life been
spared he would have kept the premises
clear OF the dangerous snakes. .-...- -.m-..
PAUL WHITEHEAD.
Far7nriUe, Va., July s, 1879.