Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1893-08-30
LIVELY AUSTRALIAN SNAKES.
They Are as Agile and Deceptive as Any
Produced by Whisky.

Produced by Whisky.
Australian snakes are very quick in
their movements and have power of
darting to a considerable distance,
which makes well-informed persons
particularly alert when traversing re-
gions that are known to be infested with
them. [ have known a person to be
struck in the face by snake upon
whose tail he had trodden while the
reptile was moving away from him, and
which sprang backward upon him like
a flash of lightning, says a writer in the
New York Times.
birds eggs, and young birds, and are
occasionally capable Of swallowing an
animal of considerable size. [ remem-
Der an instance, indeed, where one at
tempted to make a meal of a man-my-
although the effort was due to a
misrepresentation on the part of the rep
tile.
[ was shooting at Gippsland at the
time, and one afternoon went to a Sc
Guided place in neighboring creek
where the 'wonga" pigeons were &C
customed to come to drink. The
"wonga" is a beautiful bird, consider
ably larger than the American quail
and exquisitely plumaged in black,
white, brown and gray. Its flesh is 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
still in some haunt which these pigeons
frequent and initiate their note, which
is easy to counterfeit.
So | selected for my post of oDserva-
ton the trunk of fallen eucalyptus
which commanded 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 the exer-
else | happened to look around, and
was startled to observe not twenty feet
from me on the tree trunk large black
snake. which was slowly and cautiously
stealing toward me. AS [ looked
around the creature stopped and lay
motionless, his little eyes glinting
wickedly, and his sleek body showing
beautiful tones Of ebony and steel blue
as the sunlight and shadow played
upon him from the overhanging foliage.
This action of stealing upon a man
was SO unusual that, for moment, |
could not understand it. 1t then oc-
Cured to me that perhaps the snake
had been attracted by my imitation of
the notes Of the 'wonga," and had
thought of surprising a pigeon on the
edge of the stream. To test this theory,
after remaining motionless for few
moments, [ again uttered my best imi-
tation of the "wonga's'' cry. The snake
Immediately raised it's head and at a
repetition of the sound began softly
gliding toward me again. Desiring
neither the reptiles closer acquaintance
nor to alarm any pigeons that might be
near by discharging my gun, | snatched
off my cap and beat it 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 tall grass N the edge of the
stream.
During the remainder of the time /
was at watch [ continued to approve
the compliment the snake had paid to
my mimetic powers, although the value
of it's opinion was somewhat discounted
by the fact that the "wongas" them
selves seemed to detect false note in
the calls uttered. At all events none
of the birds came near me and [ had to
return home at last empty handed.