Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-08-15
TO TIE DEATH.
DESPERATE CONFLICT BETWEEN
SNAKES IN CINCINNATI.
A Rather and Copperhead Begin the
Fight and Both are Killed by an
Arizona Lizards Breath.

There was an unusual scene at the Zoo,
says the Cincinnati Inquirer of August 9TH.
1t was fight, desperate conflict, be-
tween fierce and vicious rattlesnake and
a venomous, and perhaps more poisonous,
copperhead.
1t wound up with contest with the
ella monster, who vanquished by his
poisonous breath both contestants.
As is well known, all snakes during the
winter season go into a state of hiberna-
ton. In other words, skin forms over
them which excludes all air, and from
which in early spring, or just before the
mating season, they crawl, or in country
parlance, "shed their skin" Separate
cages are not usually provided for the
members of the snake tribe, as it is found
they generally agree well together unless
provoked by the pangs of hunger or irri-
tated during the mating season, hence
copperhead and rattlesnake who all winter
had lain undisturbed in opposite corners of
the large glass cage of the reptile quarters
were left together. The rattlesnake shed
its coat, ar elegant satin white sheath,
transparent and resembling oil paper some
weeks ago, and since then has eaten vora-
ciously several white rats that have been
put into the cage. The copperhead came
quietly out of his scales Friday evening,
and after his long fast moved abolt with
considerable activity and at last climbed
the leafiess tree branch that ornamhnts the
cage, and in whose crotch a boa constructor
spends most of his time sleeping off his
gorges and eating orgies. Some time since
venomous lizard. known as the ella
monster-and found only in the vicinity of
| the ella river, Arizona, sleepy, notion
less, plethoric reptilian of the lizard tribe,
who lies in the sand motionless for the
most of the time, had been placed in this
cage, so that fresh sand and more attract
i've box could be made for it.
When the keeper, at 10 o'clock, took a
plnk-eyed, sleek white rat and put it into
the cage for the rattlesnake's dinner, he
was astonished to see the copperhead glide
swiftly down from the tree branch and
sinuously wind himself toward the unsus-
pecting white rat, which remained notion
less, seemingly unconscious of the danger
that Law in wait for him. Tho rattlesnake
lay coied within a few feet from the tat,
which his keen eyes soon saw. His head
at once arose a foot or eighteen inches
above his body and his cleaning eyes shin
ing with an unusual brightness while his
fangs darted back and forth with lightning
rapidity. In second, and before the cop
perhead reached the rat, the rattlesnake
was up and darted its fangs over the rat,
striking the copperhead in the neck. The
rat frightened at the music of the rattlers,
or possibly touched by the rattler in going
over, fled to corner of the cage. The
copperhead at once appeared to realize the
situation, and, winding around in circuit,
first to the right and then to the left, be-
fore the RATHER had time to make another
spring and gave the RATHER "a sharp thrust
in the side The RATHER felt the pain, for
it was up almost standing on its tail, and
striking in all directions, while the copper
head lodged, apparently trying to approach
the rattler from the rear This parlaying
or accommodating continued for some Sec
onds, when both snakes came together, the
copperhead winding its coils around the
rattlesnake's neck and the latter darting its
fangs into the copperhead's body like
trip-hammer.
Round and round, the RATHER and cop
perhead coiled, every now and then dart
ing its fangs into the white, yellowish belly
of the rattler. Both snakes were now
clasped in a deadly embrace and rolled
about in the sand, their blood crimsoning
everything near them and their bodies
swelling into nut-shaped Jumps, showing
where the venomous poison of the enraged
reptiles had taken effect. They rolled and
tumbled and lashed each other as only
snakes can. 1t seemed as if they were
trying to crush and break each others
bones, and in their contortions both mon
sters drew near the ella lizard and their
tails viciously dashed its body, swollen to
corpulency.
The monster rose and stirred himself.
His sleepy eyes appeared to recognize the
danger and he sluggisly moved few
inches. At last both snakes, in their fury,
rolled upon the monster, and it was soon
In the embrace of both snakes Then the
fun began The snakes squeezed the
ella and the monster retorted by rum
ming out its tongue against the bodies
of the snakes. What effect this
produced it was hard to tell, but
the motions of the snakes grew more
vicious and the ella seemed to have
awakened from its torpor and displayed
an agility and power of crawling or slip
ping through the tightening embraces OF
the snakes that one who had watched the
motionless monster for hours would not
give it credit for. Now it was out and on
both snakes.
Now it would retreat few inches from
them, and opening its mouth swell its sides
to an enormous size and belch out Its
breath upon them. Then again getting
on top of them, it would run out its
furred tongue and lap or rasp their
sides. The effect was soon TO be
perceived. The bodies of the snakes
.jerked spasmodically. as a child jumps in
commissions or dog jumps who has been
poisoned with strychnine. They no longer
ran out their fangs, but bounded up and
down, though still in each others embrace,
and after several convulsive jerks lay for |
second or two perfectly motionless, their
eyes closed.
The ella continued his swelling and |
blowing its poisonous breath upon the |
snakes, at every Whit of which their sim
uous lengths coiled up and then straight
ened out spasmodically. At last they be-
came disentangled and the copperhead lay !
stretched out its body lacerated with |
bleeding pointed wounds no larger than
pinheads, but swollen to the size of walnuts
and having dark yellowish, watery APP
pearance. The copperhead breathed as if |
in deaths agony and finally lay quiet and |
moved no more.
Not SO the rattlesnake. With that pc
culiarity which marks the entire tribe of |
rattlesnakes, this fellow appeared to realize
that its end was near; and, raising its |
head, bent over and plunged its fangs re-
peatedly, blow after blow, quick and fast,
into its own body. Its yellow belly be-
came black and dark in spots, and at last |
the ella approached to within couple of
inches of its head, and swelling twice its
size opened its jaws and poured forth a |