St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1889-09-14

SOuuu
l heard was explained and knew we'll
its object A few summers before
this, near our barn at home. | had
seen a black snake engaged in the
same maneuveE and, after killing it.
discovered that he had swallowed q
turkeys egg. ani adopted this method
TO break the shell in order that the
egg might be more easily digested. or.
perhaps. to relieve the inconvenience Of
its bulk. With suitable cudgel l soon
dispatched the snake, aud. with my
hunting knife as scalpel. at once pro-
ceeded to make the autopsy. IeXpect-
cd to find, as i'm the former instance,
AN egg as the cause of trouble. but was
much surprised upon Sitting the body
open TO see. instead OF an egg, a full
grown, box-turtle turned out Of it. 1t
was alive. too and soon opened the
bottom and end of the box. protruded
its head. tail and legs. and scrambled
off seemingly very grateful for its de-
liverance from an untimely and some
what unpleasant death. named him
Jonah and let him 60. The cause of
the snakes uneasiness became now
very plain as continued the post-mor-
TEN. for | further found" that the i'm
prisoned chelonian, i'm its desperate
efforts to regain its liberty. had actual
ly worked one of its feet through the
ophidian's stomach and. through the
outer integumenis of its body. Hence.
with both reptiles it was literally a
struggle for life-for the survival of
the fittest-Or toughest, rather. And
so. conclude that ttruth-especially in
regard to snakes-is sometimes a.
strange as fiction.
In another hunting excursion in the
American bottom, years ago. / was
fortunate in having an opportunity to
witness a singular combat, in which
the exhibition Of animal instinct
seemed only a synonym for profound
reasoning. After passing through a
small thicket of plum trees and under
brush l caught sight Of q fine. large
buck, only few yards distant, and was
about to raise my gun when my atten-
ton was arrested and curiosity excited
by his queer movements. l refrained
from firing at the beautiful animal, and
cautiously approached a little nearer
in order to discover the cause OF his
strange antics. From the time ! first
observed him he was walking slowly
around sideways. i'm a circle of per-
haps a dozen feet diameter. with head
lowered and eyes intently. watching
some central object Occasionally he
threw up his head and darted back
precipitately. but only for a moment.
and again resumed his circuit He was
so absorbed in this singular maneuver
that / crawled near enough to see
across the circle he described without
attracting his notice. / now saw that
the focus of his fixed gaze was huge
r:tttlesnake coiled up in striking at
titude. with head and tail erect, and
keeping up a constant. thrilling whir
with his thirteen rattles. 4 vicious
strike by the snake now and then
would be parried by the deer tossing
up his head and lodging back instant.
ly. The oddly-matched pair evidently
understood each others tactics and
power perfectly. and, like well-trained
pugilists in the prixe-ring. were keen
ly alert TO every motion each made.
and prepared at all points for or
against any advantage hat might be
presented.
The buck continued his walk-around
for some time, gradually increasing
his speed and narrowing his circuit
At length his opportunity came. The
snake. bewildered or fatigued by con-
stantly turning to face his antagonist.
for a moment sl;sckened his vigilance.
This was what the deer had been look
ing for. Instantly. and almost with
the rapidity of streak of lightning.
with his front feet close together and
hoofs pointed forward. he sprang upon
the coiled monster and rs instantly
back to his former safe
distance. 1t was done SO quickly that
the snake had no time to strike; but
the blow had failed in its aim. The
reptile was wounded and bleeding. but
seemed reanimated and glared savage
" at his stately enemy. and ratified
louder, aud flashed his tongue out in
mad defiance. The buck was not
the least disconnected by this hideOus
ebullition of wrath. but steadily
continued the siege. After awhile he
caught another opportunity. and. with
the swiftness of thought. he repeated
his spring forward and back again.
This stroke ended the contest The
points and sharp edges OF the hoofs-
hisel-like-struck the snake sQuarely
1t the base of the neck, where it rose
above the coiled body. and almost sew
cred it. The head dropped ana the
coil loOsened, yet the rattlinR con-
tinued. though not SO furiOusly. The
wary buck prudently kept his distance
and cautiously walked again around
his PROSTATE foe. Two or three times
he made. the circuit when he again
sprang upon the reptile. and again.
and again-determined 10 make a COM
plete job Of IL, or perhaps to give the
rataler = taste of punishment after
death-until little of it WAS left but
bleeding, mangled mass. l could not
ind it in my heart to slay the victor
after such startling exhibition Of
sasacity and pluck.s and permitted the
graceful beast to 60 his way unmo-
Tested BY venomous serpent or merci-
less biped. -.