The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1893-09-23
LIVELY AUSTRALIAN SNAKES.
fhcy Are M Agile and DASeptive rs An
Produced by Nbislsy.

fhcy Are ~ Agile and Dsvcptive as An,
Produced by WHISKY.
Australian snakes are very quick In
their mo, eiucpss and have q power OF
darting to considerable distance,
which makes well-informed persons
particularly alert when traversing
regions that are known to be infested
with them. have known q person to
be struck in the face by n snake upon
whose tail he had trodden while the
reptile was moving away from him,
and which sprang backward upon HIM
like fash Of lightning.
They feed upon small quadrupeds,
birds eggs, and young birds, and are
occasionally capable Of swallowing an
animal of considerable size. l remem-
ber an instance, indeed, where one at
tempted TO make a meal Of a man-my-
| self-alth cugh the effort was due to a
misapprehension on the part of the
reptile.
I was shooting at Gippsland ut the
time, and ole' afternoon went to- Sc
cluded place in a neighboring creek
where the "wonga" pigeons we've ac-
customed to come to drink. The
''wonga" is benutiful bird cons5dera-
bly, larger char che American quail,
and exquisitely plumaged in black,
white, brown ana gray. Its flesh la as
| white as snow, and it's flavor most deli
cate and agreeable. The 'wonga'' is a
shy bird, but is easily brought to the
hunter If only he will remain perfectly
| still in some haunt which these pigeons
frequent and initiate their note; which
is easy to counterfeit.
So selected for my post of observa-
tion the trunk of fallen eucalyptus
which commanded II view of the stream,
and which was, moreover, concealed by
a screen of low shrubbery. Here L sat
myself down and began to call the
'wongas." In the midst of this eXer-
;ise / happened to look around, and
was startled to observe not twenty feet
from me on the tree trunk a large black
snake, which was slowly and cautious
ly stealing toward me. AS l looked
around the creature stopped and lay
motionless, his little eyes giintine
wickedly. and his sleek body showing
! beautiful tones of ebony and steel blue
as the sunlight and shadow played
J upon him from the overhanging foil
age.
This action of stealing upon a, maj
vas so unusual that, for a moment,
could not understand it. 1t. them oc
Cured to me that perhaps the snake
had been attracted by NV imitation o
the notes of the "wonga," and hat
thought of surprising pigeon on the
} edge Of the stream. To test this the
Dry, after remaining motionless for {
few moments, 1 again uttered my bes
imitation of the "wonga's" cry: The
snake Immediately raised its head ant
} at a repetition of the sound begar
} softly gliding toward me again. De
string neither the reptiles closer &C
quaintance' nor to alarm any pigeons
that might be near by discharging my
gun, snatched off my cap and beat il
violently against the side of the log
} whereat the, snake. in alarm, slipped
quickly into the water, and making
for the shore, disappeared in the tai
grass on the edge of the stream.
During the remainder of the time
, was at watch contisiued to approv
the compliment the snake had paid. t.
: my mimetic powers, although. tn
value of it's opinion was somewhat dis
} counted by the fact that the 'wopgas
: themselves seemed to detect a falls
/ note in the calls 1 uttered. AT a
I events, none of the birds came nea
? me and l had to return home at las
empty handed.--N. Y. Times.