The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-05-27

lieved there was reconciliation and collu-
sion between those three copperheads in
robbing 1t, and wanted to see if was cor
rect In my belief. l stole around and
found place where | could look through
the bushes into a small open space, and
there lay the two snakes that had stolen
the eggs. The latter lay in a heap
on the ground between the two snakes.
While was gazing on the scene the OF ,er
snake came out Of the bushes into the OPEN
ing. Then ensued a great wriggling and
Kissing among the three for a minute or
more, as if they were hilarious over their
smartness and their success, and then they
went coolly TO work and divided the stolen
eggs between them, and prepared to enjoy
the feast they had purloined.
but they never enjoyed 1t. | sprang
into the opening. The snakes scattered and
made for the brush. followed them and
smashed the heads of all three. picked up
the eggs and carried them back TO the nest :,
at the side of which the old pheasant stood,
gazing disconsolately into the empty nest.
She scarcely moved as replaced the eggs,
and when she cav them before her again
she resumed her place upon them With
many signs of satisfaction, and have rea-
son to know that shee Matched them and
raised nice brood
Unlike the ratrlesnake, which, in strik-
ing, can reach out but two-thirds OF its
length. the copperhesd, which is almost as
venemous as the RATHER. can not only throw
itself It's entire length, but much further
when darling at its prey or foe. The Spring
Hill region, which isn't far from the spot
where l saw the mastery strategy of the
three copperheadS IN looting the
pheasant's nest, is noted for these
snakes. One day peddler named Andy
Lee was driving over the Spring Hill road
when he saw big copperhead lying in the
sun by the roadside. His horse refused to go
past the snake, the strong odor this reptile
omits having peculiar effect on horses and
cattle. The snake showed no disposition to
move away, and Lee got down from his
wagon and smashed the reptile with stone.
THE copper-colored spot on the heads of
these snakes is dull when the reptile is IN
disturbed, but when the snake is aroused the
spot despens in color and actually glitters,
giving the snake a startling appearance.
After killing this copperhead at the road
side Lee was climbing back into his wagon,
when he was amazed and frightened to see
another one lying on the seat he had
vacated only a couple of minutes be-
fore. The copper spot on the snakes
head was almost blazing, and the ped
der knew that it was mad and bent on
trouble. Lee fortunately was well ao-
quainted with the ways Of these venomous
reptiles, and he had no sooner set his eyes
on this one on the wagon seat than he
ducked his head below the side Of the box
He was not quarter Of a secondtoo soon, for
as Lee ducked the oopperhead jumped and
shot over the pedder's head clear to the
bushes at the side of the road. Lee
turned quickly and met the snake coming
to renew the attack and killed it. This
snake was the mate of the one which Lee
had killed first. 1t had climbed into the
wagon, taken its place on the seat, and
coolly calculated on jumping and fastening
its fangs In Lees face as soon 6s he showed
it above the wagon box. something that the
peddler's quickness alone prevented. At
least such is Lees theory. and he is well &C.
quainted with copperheads and their man
ner of doing business"