The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1890-07-16
THE RATTLESNAKE
Aud It's Deadly Enemies, the Bull
and King Snakes.
Similarity and Dissimilarity Between the
Northern Rather and Its Southern
Cousin-A Winter Days sport-The
Kinc-Snake's Method of Attack.

The true home of the rattlesnake Is
in Northwestern Texas. In tho hot,
sandy soil of tho Lone Star State this
reptile seems to grow larger than elso-
where in North America, and here, too,
he seems to be possessed OF moro poison
than in the colder climate Of tho North
orn States. Strange as it may seem the
rattlesnake thrivos in an ice-bound
country almost as we'll as in a hot, arid
region.
remember once, when scouting
through the great Yellowstone Park, in
Northwestern Wyoming and South
western Montana, of killing the largest
rattlesnako ever saw in my life. He
was nearly as largo around as ones
wrist and carried no less than nineteen
rattles and a button on tho end OF his
tail.
Along about the central part OF the
United States, say IN Kansas, Colorado
and Indian Territory, this reptile is
more noticeable for its great diameter
than its length. lie seems there to be
Chunky" SO to speak, with very
large body, but seldom attaining
greater length than three and half or
four feet
Whilo Montana is very cold country
generally, yet do rattlesnakes thrive
there wonderfully and numerously.
At ono time, while driving near our
fort in tho Yellowstone valley, in COM
pany with our post surgeon, the horses
suddenly stopped and began to shy.
They had run upon some dozens of rat
tlesnakes, large and small, who were
wrissling and squirting in tho road in
every direction.
The doctor checked the horses, and
sPfinsing to tho ground, We soon had
about as much business OH our hands rs
we could conveniently attend to- In a
few minutes wo had killed forty rat
tiers, more or less, and this was not one
tenth Of all that wero there.
Watching tho survivors for a few min
utes, 1t was observed that all of them
pointed in one direction. Following
them, we saw as many as a hundred
Dart down into q largo prairie dog hole.
This occurred in tho fall of the year,
botoro the snow had begun to fly.
During tho winter. when the snow
was from three to four feet deep and tho
thermometer something like thirty-fye
aesrees below zero, cavalry officer and
myself made trip to this Same prairie
Jog hole to dig out the rattlers in order
70 see what they were doing at that cold
season.
"e had some soldiers with us, and
with picks and shovels the men went to
Work, tho frozen dirt soon flying in
every direction.
rretty soon small rattlesnake was
,nsown out by a spade. He proved to
~ 10 exceedingly torpid or lazy, and was
dispatched by one of tho mon. Another
anu another was tossed out, and then a
olg fellow was sent sprawling on the
snow showing trife of Anger for being
disturbed in the midst Of his winter
slumbcrs.
ny tickling and tormcnting him with
s'alarod, the half-frozen reptile was in
uucod to make few strikes, but his
movements were slow and sluggish and
without much life.
he nado vicious rattle or two, but
auost Immediately sunk back into a
oouaoient, drowsy state. He was tapped
w INC head with a ramrod, which
40 TO set him crazy, for he squirmed
. ~; "riggled over the ground a few
haa es ana then buried his fangs iuto his
Uoay. his own poison killing him with
Al lew minutes.
OH - montana, Wyoming, Idaho and the
mss northern States and Territories
ti i,'e lives very large, powerful rep
Nv NV vailed the bull.snake. lie lives i,
9s'es N the ground. in logs, roster