St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1892-07-30

lNGTON, ST. TAMM
I: 4 TOAD AND ADDER FIGHT.
asA ~ shr.b Deeo Larger the re.,
! Might Have Wsa.
I: The following story Of IN encounte
between . toad and . snake known q
the venomous adder WAS described b
Col. Grey, Of Montgomery, Ala:
"AbOut two months ago. while va!
jcurneying through one Of the southern
states, ! happened to meet IN old school
mate OF mine by the name of Georg,
Ashley. who had been visiting some o.
his friends in the vicinity. We entered
into conversation and ne asked me e
come with him and visit his home.
f. consented. and we started of. To reach
the house we were obliged to ascend a
steep hill, the sides of which were clad
, with . dense tangle of forest; beyond
ehis lay . stretch Of swamps and rocky
ridge& But we had not been long in
the thick wood when we were stopped
by hearing . curious kissing sound,
coming evidently from . small grass
patch close by our path.
MY friend drew close 10 my side. and
- We both listened intently we soon
again heard the same ominOus kissing
cry: We now surmised the cause Of the
noise. and presently large adder came
wiggling out of grass plot. moving
toward the bare turf among the trees.
But judge OF our surprise to see follow
ing the snake and keeping pretty close,
rs II intending to give il battle. nothing
less than toad. The adder was obliged
to travel somewhat slowly. even though
At his best speed. for his method of loco
motion was by coiling himself forward
BY muscular force, whereas the toad
could jump four to five feet at q time,
and could take . pretty snug rest while
waiting for the snake to start up each
time.
1T seemed to me rs II the snake did
not know that the toad was following
him. and on the other hand il was Just
rs clear that the toad was trying to
keep himself hidden from the sight Of
the snake. rs he crouched low and hid
himself whenever he stopped. When
the two had got upon open ground the
adder stopped and took . rest, but on
thrusting his head from one side to
another his eye fell casually on the
toad, which sat squat upon q little
patch Of pine needles, fully rs broad Is
it was long. But no sooner did the
adder see the presumptous batrachian
than he seemed to become filed with
rage, and, raising his crest several
inches, emitted . number Of furious
misses and 1T once made for his diminu-
tive pursuer. But the toad was too
nimble for it and hoped here and
there, keeping . safe distance from the
poisoned fangs Of the adder.
For q time we could not surmsei
what would come of the curious con-
test, but presently the toad srrang into
the air and alighted on the back of the
reptile. The snake coiled round and
round. biting At the little toad. and we
were sure he was done for, but he
sprang out of the coils in . way that
LAGOON never could have done. But
before he sprang he had bitten his ad-
He again returned to the as
sault, jumped upon the coils of the
snake, bit it again, but this time, before
ne could escape, the adder had thrust
his poisoned fang into the toad's body.
1--WE thought that this would finish
he daring little combatant, but to our
lmazement he hoped of and went to
! curious little weed with many
branches. bit OF . couple Of mouthfuis
rom its leaves and again returned to
he fray rs clipper as ever. He
nee more bit the adder rs near
$ possible to the neck, was bitten in re-
urn and tumbled over on the turf, but
in . moment and went again
o the plant and took two or three
aouthfuls more. This again seemed to |
evive the toad, and he came back again
o the battle with renewed vigor and |
ourage.
Nevertheless the snake seemed 70 be /
citing :he best of him. then rolled |
~ handkerchief round my hand and
to wait an opportunity to
escue the plucly little toad. was
fraid to take him in my bare hand lest
might get infected with s,me of the
olson with which his body was fairly
eluGed. but the brave little batrachian
,ught on and on, receiving many
rounds and biting all the time 1T the
liant till il had disappeared. Then one
lore great jab from the forked tongue
the adder and the gsmy little toad
lmbled over On his back under the tree
nd was dead!
The plant, I way say. was what is
nown Is the toad plant, and IL is
.puted to have the property Of con-
lining an antidote to any venomous
ten. Y. Herald.
CO0lA Not He.