The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1890-12-20

The Little ConstrIcsor's Desperate Fight
with venomous Ophidian.


The king snake Is the wonder OF all
ophidians. A diminutlve specimen,
scarcely more than three feet In length.
yet the little fellow Is SO active, SO
wary. and Is endowed with such rare
pluck. that. rs his name implies. he is
truly and unquestionablc the king Of
the family.
was out after peccarics. or musk
hogs. and sat down under n bunch of
chaparrai near a stream os water. TO
rest and 10 eat bit of lunch. While
thus employed | was somewhat star
tied TO see n moccasin come dashing
through the grass within couple OF
yards OF me. and 20 dashing head
over heels. so to speak. splash into the
water. After him. like shot, was an
elongated streak of bright green. In
he went. too. and then knew there
was fun in store. The water was "A
sort OF pool. without much OF nm inlet
or outlet, and. unless going across sand
and rocks or 10y coming back on shore
again. neither combatant could es-
cape.
Sure enough. after racing and tear
ing around ia the pool like mad. both
pursuer aud pursued emerged from the
opposite side. and proved to be. rs |
thought cottonmouth moccasin and
rather small king snake. The latter
was after the other. however. and be-
fore the big fellow gave up the race or
could throw himself In an attitude of
defense, the king snake was upon him.
The sole and entire power OF the lat
ter reptile lies in his wonderful con-
stricting abilities. He has no fangs.
no poison. nothing to attack or defend
himself with save his coils. but these
are so marvellously powerful anil SO
terrible in COMPRISING that nothing
in the animal or reptile world. accord
ing to size. can begin to compare with
him for this especial quality.
No sooner had the moccasin stopped
and turned 10 defend himself than like
lightning his enemy jumped upon him
and proceeded to squeeze the life out
of his ugly carcass. Tighter and tight
cr grew the coils. always so arranged
that the big one could not strike. aud
pretty soon the kings body was NEAR
" lost TO view SO slender had il grown
from construction and SO deep was he
in the fat flesh of the moccasin. Ii
looked like green cord wound tightly
around the latter's body.
At last the moccasin ceased resist
ance and allowed his body 10 hang
loose and inert. For ten minutes
longer did the king snake hold his
grasp. than gradually loosencd IT, but
always ready to resume his squeezing
should his enemy exhibit any signs of
life. Finally he uncoiled himself en-
tirely. saw that the moccasin was no
no more. turned his back on the scene.
and went gliding of through the
brush.
In some parts Of Texas king snakes
are quite numerous. In the lowlands
and especially in meadows and river
bottoms. they are found in great num-
bcrs. Nobody harms them. neither
whites nor negroes. and even Mcxicans
seem TO understand their good quail
ties for they seldom II ever kill one.
When soldiers are In camp and find "A
great many king snakes in the vicini-
~. they know IL is good sign. for
poisonous snakes will steer clear OF
that locality. and never visit il while
there is one of the royal breed about
--1cIGs Cor. PHILADELPHIA Times.