The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-06-23
OUR DEADIIEsT SNAKE.


From the New York sun
The southwest is more literally sup
piled with venomous things than any
other ares in the union. In the burn
ing deserts, in the inhabited but arid
expanses of New Mexico and Arizona,
the rattlesnake abounds. and in seve-
raj varieties, including The strange and
deadly "sidewinder," crotolas cerastes.
The so-called tarantula-really only a
gigantic bush spider. but none the less
dangerous because of the misnomer-is
decidedly common. Scorpions are none
too rare in the southern portion of the
territories, and in all parts centipedes
of seven TO eight inches long are fire.
quent and neighborly. But the chief
distinction of the region in this respect
is the presence of the pichu-cuate, the
deadliest snake in North America
The pichu-cuate matches the worst
serpent of India. Not only the most
highly venemous, but the tiniest and
most treacherous, he would be also the
most dangerous-but, luckily, he is the
rarest. He is the only true asp on this
continent; and in the United States is
never found outside of New Mexico and
Arizona That he was also known TO
the ancient Mexicans is apparent from
his name-pichu-coatl, an Aztec word,
which was brought up TO our territory
by the Spanish conquerers-
My first meeting with one was in Va
lencia county, n. NJ, in June, 1890, on
the sandy tanks of the Cerro del Aire.
j was out hunting jaclrs bbits, in com
pany with some Indian friends, and had
dismounted to stalk, leading my pet
horse by the bride. My eyes were on
small chapparo bush ahead, when
suddenly Alazan snorted, and reared
backward SO violently as 10 almost I'M
hinge my arm. / looked about in sur
prise, for Alazan was too good a horse
to mind trifies. As there was nothing
to be seen, started TO pull him for
ward. Again he protested and with
evident terror, and, CHANGING 20 look
at my feet, I understood his fear. and
felt very grateful that his senses were
better than mine, for in another step /
should have walked upon my death
The only thing visible was tiny OBJ
ject, not nearly SO large as a good stag
beetle, merely a head, and perhaps an
inch of neck. But it was the most
frightful object in its kind that had
ever seen. The head, certainly neither
so broad nor so long as my thumbnail.
had a shape and an air of condensed
malignity impossible 70 describe. II
seemed the very essence OF wickedneSs
and hate, fairly bullying with deadly
spite, and growing upon one until il
looked several times its actual size. The
ugly triangle (which is the distinguish
ing mark of all venomous snakes, being
formed by the poison gland back OF each
eye) told me at once that Alazan was
keeping up his reputation-never did he
shy at harmless snake-and the tiny
horns, which added a peculiar and gro
tesque hideousness. left no doubt that
this was pichu-cuate. He had buried
himself almost TO the head in the gray
sand, against which his upper skin was
barely distinguishable, and thus in am
bush was waiting for something 20
turn up.
Turning AlaZan loose, knelt at the
safe distance of q yard tostudy the little
creature, which fairly swelled with
murderous rage. 1t not only struck
madly at the chapparo switch thrust
out TO il, but at last, evidently discern
ing that the blame lay back of the
switch, actually followed it up, and
with such agility that had to jump up
L l. IL
idea of retreat never seemed TO enter
that fat head Sometimes he would lie
and puff out with impOtent rage. throw
ing his mouth so wide open that IL
seemed the venom must start, and some
times ne glided toward me. his head an
inch above the ground, with an attitude
which seemed 10 say: Stand still there
and well see who laughs
At last killed him He was neither
larger round nor longer than an ordi-
nary lead pencil; cold. leadeu gray on
the back. but underneath rosy a. the
mouth of conch shell. The fangs were
tiny. not much more than an eighth Of
an inch long, and as delicate as the
tiniest needle. A ronsyous mechanism
this mouth. with It's two automatic
needles, so infnitesiInal- vet so perfect
" competent. ] opened the ugly little
jaws wide, pressing upon the sides of
the head: and when the recurring fsDgs
had risen from their grooves in the roof
Of the mouth and stOOd tense, a stream
so incOnesivzbly fine that the eye could
barely note il spJrted from each. and
IN the space Of two or three inches
melted into invisible spray. Yet that
iet. fner than a cobwse strand, was
enough To give swift death 20 the largest
and strongest animal that walks.
When the hunt was over I told my
Indian chuns Of the pichu-custe. and
asked them many questions They all
knew % the snake, though several had
never seen one. and all agreed thas .
Is extremely rare The crotalas rsnks /
among the Pueblo eivinities. and their /
eharncrs have no difficulty with that |
steadJzzo.nz and respectable reptile |