Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1893-12-02
LIVELY AUSTRALIAN SNAKES.
They Are Agile and deceptive as Any
Produced by whisky.

Australian snakes are very quick i'm
their movements and have n power Of
darling to considerable distance.
which makes wcli informed persons
particularly alert when traversing re-
gions that are known to be infested
with them. have known a person ia
bo struck in the face by snake upor
whose tail he had trodden while The
reptile was moving away from him,
and which sprang backward upon him
like flash Of lightning, says a writer
in the n. Y, Times.
They feed upon small quadrupeds.
birds eggs, and Young birds, and are
occasionally capable Of swallowing am
animal OF considerable size. remem.
ber an instance, indeed, where one at.
tempted 10 make meal OF q man
myself-allhough the effort was due to.
mlsapprchenslon on the part of the
reptile.
was shooting at Gippsland at the
time, and one afternoon went TO Sc.
cluded place in neighboring creek.
where The "wonga" pigeons were &c.
customed TO drink. The "wonga" is n.
beautiful bird, considerably larger
than the American quail. and exqais-
ilely plnmage,lin in black. white. brown.
and gray. Its flesh is as white an
snow, and its flavor most delicate and
agreeable. The "wonga" is a shy bird.
but is easily brought TO The hunter "A
only he will remain perfectly still in
some haunt which these pigeons fire.
quent and initiate their note. which is
easy to counterfeit.
SO ! selected for my post OF observa-
tton the trunk OF n fallen eucalyptus
which commanded u view oil the
stream. and which was. moreover, con-
ceaicd by screen of low shrhbbery.
Here l sat myself down and began To
call the "wongas." In the midst Of
this exercise happened to look around
Sud was startled to observe not TWEEN.
W Feet from me Oh the tree trunk n
large black snake. which was slowly
ana cautiously stealing toward me. As
looked around the creature stopped
aud lay motionless. his little eyes clint.
ing wickedly; his sleek body showing
beautiful tones of ebony and steel
blue astho sunlight and shadow PLAYED
upon him from the overhanging foli-
are,
This action of stealing upon a man
was so unusual that, for a moment. /
could not understand ii. It then os.-
Cured to me that perhaps tho snake
had been attracted by my inaitation Of
Inc notes OF tho "wonga,s and had
thought OF surprising pigeon on thc
edge of the stream, 10 test this theo-
ry. after remaining motionless for q
lew moments, lagain uttered nv best
imitation OF the "wonga's" cry. The
seake immediately raised its head and
at repetition OF tho sound began soi,-
" gliding toward me again. besirin,
no'ii'er the Reptiles closer scaaasr:,
anco nor 10 alarm any pigeons that
might be near by discharginv NV gun.
|, snalchcd OF my cap aud beat it yio-,
ienlly against the side of the lov.
wherea, thc snake. In alarm, slippei
9Siesly into the water, aud, making
TOR the shore. disappeared in the taif
grass on Tue edge 0f the stream. !.
During the remainder OF tba tImA i
MAS nj watch | continued y, apnrnv.,,
the compliment tho snake had pnIa ia.
my nhmciic powers althourA ths,
value OF It's opinion was somowEat ,lis-
counted by the fact that the ~,yon0ass
themselves seemed Ia dctect n ssiss.
note ~ the calls l uttered. Al all
events none al tho birds camo near M,
snd had TO return home Mt last cupt I,