Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-02-06
SNAKE AND r
A Remarkable Contest Between a Partridge
and a Black Snake.

A Remarkable Contest Between a Partridge
and a Black Snake.
Whether Or not it is scientifically true
that snakes ever charm birds, it is true
that birds sometimes attack and XIII
snakes. An account is given in the In
dianapolis People of an exciting contest
Of this kind, in which a partridge was
the victor. 1t happened in Preston,
Wayne County, Pa.~:A travelling sales
man, while' trout-fishing in Il creek
near that place, heard a conmotion in
the bushes near the creek, and cries
such as are made by young chickens
when they are lost. He peered through
the bushes, and saw a hen partridg e
and a large black snake engaged in q
combat.
Huddled together a short distance
away was the partridgc's brood, peep
ing in terror. The partridge attacked
the snake with her beak and feet, and
struck also below with her wings. She
moved with such rapidity about the
snake, that, in spite of the quickness
with which the reptile is enabled to
throw its folds about anything it at
tacks, the snake was foiled in all it's at
tempts to encircle the bird, which
seemed to be seeking to blind the SER
pent by striking at its eyes.
In its efforts to get the bird within its
coil the snake seemed to glide over and
under her like a flash, but, no matter
what course it took, the partridge
never failed to slip away from it and
deliver a telling blow upon it.
Once the snake ratraotaI roro,o1 foo+
as if flying from the bird, and the latter
followed it closely. Suddenly the
snake turned and rushed back at the
partridge with it's head raised more
than a loot in the air. The bird dashed
forward to meet the serpent, and deliv-
cred Il blow with its beak which struck
the snake square in one of its eyes.
h was apparent to the witness, who
stood within ten feet of the contestants.
by the snakes instantly dropping its
head to the grouud and rolling it from
side to side as if in great pain.
The bird did not lose a second in fol.
lowing up her advantage, but bounced
on the snake close to its head. and. with
strokes. delivered with surprising rapid
lty, inflicted wounds with her beak
Which seemed to daze the snake and it
guided first in one direction and then in
another. making no further effort to
defend e itself and yet apparently unable
to ind a way to escape.
The partridge kept up it's effective
striking on the neck of the snake until
the head was almost separated from the
body and ths9eptile ceased to move.
The man advanced at this point in
the battle, but the bird continued to
tear at the flesh of the snake until he
was neal enough to touch her, when
she became aware of his presence for
the 1lrst time. She reiterated hurriedly
to the spot where her terror-stricken
BROOD were huddled, and calling then
after her with a few clucks. led them
away INTO the underbrush.
On eSaming the snake, it was found
mat besides the fatal wounds it had re"
celved in its neck, both of it's ewes mad
Deen put out by the partridge. The
snake was nearly five feet in length,
ana a in its stomach the partially
algestea remains Of a large rattle