The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-05-08
Demonstrating the Relation TINT Exists Be-
tween Fo aud BIncksnakcs.

tween Foxes aud Black snakes.
HUNTINGDON. Pa, May 7.IIiram Ross. tho
famous hunter and trapper of the Bear Mead
| ows. who died recently. was ar interesting and
remarkable character He was real back
woodsman in tho old-fashioned sense. n
quaint. untutored naturalist. a regular old
Settler His log cabin. built among tho rock
lest and most inaccessible fastnesscs of Stone
Mountain. where Huntingdon. Centre. and
Mifllin counties come together. was treasury
OF odd souvenirs and hunters relies. big
jar full OF rattlcsnakes rattles stood on
the rude mantel over tho wide fire.
place: bearsiins covered tho floor: deer
antlers were on tho walls. and q thou
sand queer traps and knicknacks. mementoes
Of the chase. besides boxes and cages con-
tanning living pets. Uttered the interior
There he lived in peace and quiet. enjoying an
ideal hunters life. with few wants and inno-
cent tastes: fishing at will in the Standing
Stone Crock. which fairly swarmed with trout
and hunting in the surrounding wilderness
deer. bear. wildcats. rabbits. turkeys. and
other game.
Not long ago Hiram trapped two live foxes. a
male and female. fully grown. and confined
them as pets in an iron cage Of his own con-
struction. The pair soon became reconciled
to their captivity and acquired IL strong mu-
tual affection for each other and a marked
fondness for Hiram. The latter kept them
we'll supplied with birds from the neGhboring
woods. and with fruits. nuts. and occasional
rations Of meat. They seemed to be perfectly
satisfied. but Hiram nevertheless constantly
sought out new delicacies for them. Early in
April last. while on ramble on the noun
tain. Hiram surprised big blacksnake
basking in the sunshine. Tile thought
struck MIN that maybe his pets might relish ii
lated on the relation supposed to exist be-
tween foxes snakes and here was a. chance
tt he tba up Srf9a
drxterous turn OF his right hand. pinned the
blacksn4ke down by placing the t9rknd stick
left hand he seized the rep'il by the back lie;
FRS 1t could :, recover from It's ,Hrpr,s ma
down the cover tightly to secure his prisoner
When at home he dropped the wrthinS snake
nt" the i2Xes cage IND WatrM TO- SJm what
spark!cI with delight. and their voluminous
brushes, vibratedd alott with great animation.
an,stonishIng degree # GalIaniry toward his
mate by denying himself many dainty morscl! !
nn4 srrnnG Ikea fash at ,;he SNAKE, selling
il close hchind the head. A. almost thc sane
aud she missed her mark. Instead Of striking |
the snake she gave her mate a sharp bite 90 !
wound. from which tine blood spUrtcd pro-
fusniy. and starting u family war.
With Ia how! Of ruin tho male dropped NO !
snlk" and tururl Ia punish his c'.ln- SPOUSE; /
IN" spuus how Yer was plUcky. ana ehuW'"i /
iur -IiTit"d resentment BY Swapping Mt him /
furiously the fur few in little TUFTS. and VI /
clou, -qucal- and discprdant y"lls rent lh"AlE /
UYrr and OYER thoy rolled. exactly ~ DOGS 90 .
in deadly combat. while the ilackauakr h"-
spitr - broken back. FASTENED 10 tHk" airiN- (
to q. 81 tha opportunity II escape hF WE .!Nn-
u,t between the bars ri ia" cas" O! ma d, I,
meantime looked ON in childish ..'"' ana 7
huggei his lat ~dr- vita laughter. ~ a 'rW /
minutes. however. 1t seemed 10 rr'li - ' ~ /
the foxes that thry W"r" WASTING 'iI'' l'' /
they slisprNdcl hDsliiiti"S am !"on"I "i|''r
about in search II tho snnNr. II Hai .ir'''H-
al In getting all Of its body ont ~ the 'En'
except the tip Of it. tai
The male spi"d IT Hui. S'i2ng tn" r'tT'''-
in. tan in his mouth. whipped o." r"f' .r hnIN
into tho ctg, again. IN" U'St upNrni ,''''
female had snapp"l urun TIA. U"l T. ANA lI'i
ln.h fnNr, hrgtil to DtI,l ter drIr .l'" lH "in'-
,itn' .llrrrti.n- rh' hrir a.. 'Nr SNAKE
,trrtrhrI at ularV"iiou-iy. iIt y Ntt !" 4 y,
WAY 10 thu strain ,,urWu6f"- -. ! ~ TlIh.l
I, I,ut one lir! way i3O-l III" iuN. an ,uh." |
fox turun1 H. on, corner ~ the ,tS" WIN ms
.mnIirr norton. WNiin ia" iu@Il". dreaming
lrst She might o., .rar.i"d - lI'' partner out
of her shIr" Ir,c"rieG with lrlulin ht"'' 20
,lrs,.,trL the remaining tvs" iiir.s h'Ior' nc
roul # U,i in 1II- NI,. slIr'r".I"d. ana IN very |
short linn TN ru'irc snake, h"li, tan ana
sen a.. ,,,rry III of ~ein ma, every, hirrd OF
G.sS il.I ,li-gt.jrarud, oli iilrAm hhi DEM
nn.tIut ii fn hI- -t1fs'l'il II thp relation be-
tween IArk -uak" and luN"S'