Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1891-11-14
cAIppY ANp Aops,.
Details OF a Meeting 5t as American
Sparrow and Poisonous Snake.

Details OF Meeting NJ an Americas
Sparrow and a Poisonous Snake.
Down In South IaineShurg. N, j.,
there Is long, winding, sandy rad
that leads from the main thoroughiare
mp to and past the state reform school
for incorrigible boys About mile
from the school the Rad Is cut through
8 hill and has slopm2 banks on both
sides
The natives of harrisburg know THAT
portion of the road To he infested liz
snakes of many varieties, but the uns'>
they fear most arr cOpperbeadS black
snakes and ladders Bushes un hutl
sides of the slope and small hr,s,k
near by. skirted 10y growth OF rank
weeds and underhrilSh make the spot
an ideal abode of snakes
A reporter had occasion TO visit tin,
JameSburg reform sclionl. and walked
up the winding 9Oad. NOT knowing that
II had an established local reputation
for snakes, When quite near the hru,,t
his attention WAS attracted To ppcul
Iar noise in hush Looking toward
It he saw su'all field chippy. with its
bill extended. and utterImg the strange
sound The bird was perclled On top
branch. and ifs wings were moving, rs
II trying 10 fly bur il was apparently
unable to do 80
Tine repurter saw on investigating
that large snake was stretched out
under the. bush. with its head erect,
and small. tIeatllike eyes caSt full upon
the frightened bird lie stopped to
pick up stone. and the motion caused
the snake tO crawl away in tht. high
weeds The bird ceased tlurterlng for
moment. and the reporter rptreated
acrsS the ruad to watch proceedings
from distance
The bird seemed TO recover its self
p',SstssiOn, and began hopping about
among the branches. When il had
reached one oi flle lower branches it
snddruly stopped began urtpring the
peculiar sound a. before. and then
linpped to the ground 1t was evident
THAT rlle snake had returned. and the
bird which evidently sIw il also. made
/ the effort 10 escape before the serpent
had again woven the spell around it.
| As Soon as the snake saw the bird
alight an the ground it cooled itself up
~ Il sIuall knot and Sprang mt the bird.
/ The calculation failed. and the bird,
with wings extended. hopped along the
! hare road holding its head erect, and
\ with bill opened wide continued to
make the screechlIg NOISE. louder and
/ more plalntivrly than before The
/ snake crawlrd after its intended vic
\ rim. which was tnp hahly frightened to
/ lncTeast. its speed and too much over.
come with fatigue To use ITS wings The
/ reporter tried to- Kill tile. snake.
When the bird saw him raise his
hand il turned sharply away and ran
UP the sand bank and wits lost from
sight in the field The snake continued
7 It's clIlst. until lie threw the stone. wheel
tell wide OF its mark Then. whet
almost half way up the Incline. Il
stopped. opened wide its mouth. anc
! pr-dil IbltllbiiS ttS lpFhtsI tongue at Illtn
The reporter returned within lew lee
ut il when il lowered Its head and Hat
tened out until several inches of it!
body looked like dark mottlei ribbon
Before il could spring the reporter Gu
the creature III two II measured owe
three feet.
The assistant superintendent said TN
snake was oi the poisonous Hat lipadeC
adder species. much feared in tia
locality New York Sun.