Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1891-11-13
CHIPPY AND ADDER.
Details of a Meeting of an American Spar.
row and a Pois onous Snake.

row ana q POISONOUS snake.
Down in South Jamesburg, N. j.,
there is long winding sandy road
that leads from the main thoroughfare
up to and past the State Reform school
for incorrigible boys. About a mile
from the school the road is cut through
hill and has sloping banks on both
sides.
The natives of Jamesburg know that
portion of the road to be infested by
snakes of many varieties, but the ones
they fear most are copperheads, black.
snakes, and adders Bushes on both
sides of the slope and small brook
near by, skirted by growth of rank
weeds and underbrush, make the spot
an ideal abode of snakes.
A reporter had occasion to visit the
Jamesburg reform school short time
ago and walked up the winding road
not knowing that it had an established
local reputation for snakes. When
quite near the brook his attention was
attracted to peculiar noise in bush.
Looking toward it he saw small field
chippy, with its bill extended, and ut
tering the strange sound. The bird
was perched on top branch, and its
wings were moving, as if trying to fly,
but it was apparently unable to do so.
The reporter saw, on investigating,
that large snake was stretched out
under the bush, with its head erect,
and small bead-like eyes cast full upon
the frightened bird. He stopped to
pick up a stone, and the motion caused
the snake to crawl away in the high
weeds. The bird ceased fluttering for
a moment, and the reporter retreated
across the road to watch proceedings
from distance.
The bird seemed to recover its sell
possession and began hopping about
among the branches. When it had
reached one of the lower branches il
suddenly stopped, began uttering the
peculiar sound as before, and then
hoped to the ground. 1t was evident
that the snake had returned, and the
bird, which evidently saw it also, made
the effort to escape before the serpent
had again woven the spell it. AS
soon as the snake saw the bird alight
on the ground, it coiled itself up in g
small knot and sprang at the bird The
calculation failed and the bird, with
wiags extended, hoped along the bare
road, holding its head erect, and witt
bill opened wide, continued to make
the screeching noise, louder and more
plaintively than before. The snake
crawled after its intended victim
which was too badly frightened te
increase it's speed, and too much
overcome with fatigue to use its wings
The reporter tried to kill the snake
When the bird saw him raise his hanC
it turned sharply away and ran up thu
sand bank and was lost from sight il
the field. The snake continued it
chase until he threw the stone, which
fell wide of its mark. Then, when al
most halfway up the incline, it stop
ped, opened wide its mouth, and began
pointing its forked tongue at him. TIT
reporter returned within few feet o
It. when it lowered it's head and fiat
tened out until several inches of it
BODY looked like a dark mottled rib
hon. Before it could spring the report
Ar cut the creature in two. 1t measur
ed over three feet
The assistant superintendent said tn
snake was of the poisonous fat-heade'
adder species, much feared in that lo
cality. These snakes, as well a
copperheads, have been unusually mum
erous thereabout this sc sson, and pei
sons who venture in the woods and low
lands always go prepared to epeCunte
shem.--f. !, sun.