The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1893-09-21
LIVELY AUSTRALIAN SNAKES.
They Are as Agile and Deceptive as Any
Produced by Whisky.

They Are as Agile and Deceptive as Any
Produced by Whisky.
Australian snakes are very quick in
their movements and have a power of
darling to a considerable distance,
which makes well-informed persons
particularly alert when traversing
regions 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 flash 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-
Der an instance, indeed. where one at
tempted to make meal of NANNY
self-although the effort was due to a
Misrepresentation On the part of the
reptile.
was shooting at Gippsland at the
time, and one afternoon went to a Sc
cluded place in a neighboring creek
where the "wonga" pigeons were ac-
customed to come to drink. The
''wonga" is beautiful bird considera-
bly, larger than the American quail,
and exquisitely plumaged in black,
white, brown and gray. It's flesh is as
white as snow, and its flavor most deli
cate and agreeable. The ''wonga' is
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-
ton the trunk of fallen eucalyptus
which commanded a view of the stream,
and which was. moreover, concealed by
a screen of low shrubbery. Here | sat
myself down and began to call the
''wongas.' In the midst of this exer-
else l 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 cautious
ly 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 foli-
age.
This action of stealing upon man
was so unusual that, for a 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 the
DRY, after remaining motionless for a
few moments, again uttered my best
imitation of the ''wonga's' cry. The
snake Immediately raised its head and
at a repetition of the sound began
softly gliding toward me again. De-
string neither the reptiles closer ac-
quaintance 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 on the edge of the stream.
During the remainder of the time
was at watch l continued to approve
the compliment the snake had paid to
my mimetic powers, although the
value of it's opinion was somewhat dis
counted by the fact that the ''wongas"
themselves seemed to detect a false
note in the calls | uttered At all
events none of the birds came near
me and had to return home at last