The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-08-13

The Arizona Creature Of Venom Lays Ou
the Great Serpents-A Frightful
Sight.
There was an unusual scene at the Zoo
Yesterday, says the Cincinnati Enquirer.
It was fight, desperate conflict, be-
tween fierce and vicious rattlesnake and
yenomous, and perhaps more poisonous,
copperhead.
It wound up with contest with the ella
monster. who vanquished by his poisonous
breath both contestants.
As is we'll known all snakes during the
winter season 90 into state of Information.
In other words, a skin forms over them,
excludes all air, and from which IN early
spring, or just before the mating season,
thew crawl, or in country parlance, shed
their skim Separate cages are not usually
nroyided for the members of the snake
tribe. as it is found they generally agree
we'll together unless provoked BY the
ranqs of hunger or irritated during
the mating season, hence copper
head 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, an 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
nut into the cage. The copperhead came
anietlv out of its scales Friday evening, and
after his long fast moved about with con-
siderable activity and at last climbed the
leafless tree branch that ornaments the
cage, and in whose crotch boa constructor
spends most of his time sleeping off his
gorges and eating orgies. Some time since
venomous lizard, known as the ella mon
ster-and found only in the vicinity OF the
ella river in Arizona. . sleepy, motlonless,
plettoric reptilian of the lizard tribe, who
lies in the sand motionless for most of the
time. had been placed in this cage, SO that
fresh sand and a more attractive Dox coulo
be made for it.
When the keeper, about 10 o'clock, took
pink. eyed, sleek white rat and put it into
the cage for the rattlespake's dinner he was
astonished to see the copperhead glide
swiftly down from the tree branch and
sinuously wind himself toward the unsus-
pectinc White rat. which remained motion
less, seemingly unconscious of the danger
that lay in wait for him. The rattlesnake
lay coiled within few feet from the rat.
which his keen eyes soon saw. HIS head al
once arose foot or eighteen inches above
his body and his cleaning eyes shining
dafted back and forth with lightning rapid
ity. In second and before the copper.
head reached the rat, the rattlesnake waf
up and darted it's fangs over the rat. strlk-
ing the copperhead in the neck. The rat
frightened at the music of the rattlers, OF
possibly touched by the RATHER in coins
over, hed 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
before the RATHER had time to make an
other spring and gave the rattlesnake
sharp thrust in the side. The RATHER
felt the pain, for it was up almost standing
while the copperhead lodged, apparently
trying to approach the RATHER from the rear
This parleying or accommodating, continued
for some seconds, when both snakes came
together, the copperhead winding Its coll
around the rattler's neck and the lattel
darting its fangs into the copperhead's
body like a trip-hammer.
Round and round the RATHER and copper
head coiled, every now and then darling It'll
fangs into the white, yellowish belly OF thu
RATHER. Both snakes were now clasped in {
deadly embrace and rolled about in thu
sand, their blood crimsoning everythlnt
near them and their bodies swelled init
nut-shaped bumps, showing where the ven
omous poison of the enraged reptiles hat
taken effect. They rolled and tumbled AM
dashed each other as only snakes can.
seemed AZ if they were trying to crush ant
break each Others bones, and in their con
tortionG both monsters drew near the Gil
lizard and their tails viciously dashed 1t
body, swollen to corpulency.
The monster rose and stirred himself
His sleepy eyes appeared to recognize tn
danger and he sluggishly moved fe
inches. At last both snakes, in their fur.
rolled upon the monster and 1t was soon
the embrace of both snakes. Then the flu
began. The snakes squeezed the CHA an
the monster retorted by running out il
tongue against the bodies of the snake
What effect this produced it was hard
tell, but the motions Of the snakes gre
more vicious and the Gila seemed to hav
awakened from it's torpor and displayed a
agility and power of crawling or slippll
through the tightening embraces of Il
snakes that one who had watched Il
motionless monster for hours would NJ
give it credit for. Now it was out and {
both snakes.
Now it would retreat few inches fro
them. and opening it's mouth, swell Its SD
breath upon them. Then again getting {
top of them, it would run out its furr,
tongue and lap or rasp their sides. II
effect was soon to be perceived. The DO
les of the snakes jerked systematically. as
child jumps in commissions or frog jun
who has been poisoned with strychnin
They no longer ran out their tangs. b
bounded up and down. though still in ca,
others embrace. and after several convu
i've jerks, lay for second or two perfect
motionless. their eyes closed.
The ella continued his swelling and bio
ing it's poisonous breath upon the snake
at every Whit of which their sinuo
lengths coiled up and then Strengthened Q
spasmodically. At last they became disc
tangled and the copperhead lay stretch
out, its body lacerated with bleediIl
pointed wounds, no larger than pin-he
but swollen to the size of walnuts and hi
ing dark. yellowish. watery appearan
The copperhead breathed as if in deatl
agony, and finally lay quiet and breath
no more.
Not so the rattleskake. With that pecr
arity which marks the entire tribe of raft
snakes, this fellow appeared to realize II
its end was near; and, raising its he
bent over and plunged its fangs repeated
blow after blow, quick and fast. into
own body. Its yellow belly became blt
and dark in spots, and at last the Gila
preached to within a couple of inches of
head, and swelling twice its size opened
jaws and poured forth blast of poison,
breath.
Slowly, like the dropping of curtain,
eyelids of the RATHER closed. its long, sli