Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1894-06-30
A TINY TERROR.
AMERICAS DEADLIESr SNAKE
Is THE pICHU-CCATE.
t Il Found I'm the Southwest. and
Even Indian Snake Charmers
Fear I: t Is Tiny and 1t
Kills Very Quickly.

Union. In the burning
deserts, in the inhabited but arid ex.
panses of New Mexico aud Arizona,
the rattlesnake ahounds, and In several
varieties. including the strange and
deadly "sidewinder, croto,us cerastes.
The so-callcd tarantula-re eally only q
gigantic bush spider, but none the
less dangerous because of the mis-.
oomer-is decidedly common. Scor.
oions are none too rare in the south.
ern portions Of the Territories. and in
al parts centipedes of seven to eight
inches long are frequent and neigh
oorly. But the chief distinction of
he region in this respect is the pres
snce of the pichu-cuate. the deadliest
snake in North America.
The pichu- u-cuate matches the worst
serpent of India. Not only the most
highly venomous, 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
70 our territory by the Spanish con-
querors.
My first meeting with one was in
Valencia County, New Mexico, in
June, 1890, on the sandy flanks of the
Cerro del Aire. / was out hunting
;ackrabbits, in company with some
indian friends, and had dism mounted
10 stalk. leading my pet horse by the
,ridle. Ny eyes were on small
;happaro bush ahead, when suddenly
ilazan snorted, and reared backward
; 70 violently as almost to unhinge my
.rm. ] looked about in surprise. for
Alazan was too good horse to mind
rifles. As there was nothing to be
'een, / started to pull him forward.
Again he protested and with evident
error, and, CHANGING to look at my
| ,ery feet, / understood his fear. and
.elt 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
object, not nearly SO large as good
+, tag beetle merely a head. and per
laps IN inch Of neck But it WAS the
most frightful object in it's kind that
| [ had ever seen The head, certainly
leither SO broad nor SO long as my
| ;humbnail, had shape and au air OF
If condensed malignity impossible to
describe 1t seemed the very essence
If wickedness and hate. fairly bulging
with deadly spite. and growing upon
)ne until it looked several times its
.ctual size The ugly triangle (Which
| the distinguishing mark OF all ven
,mous snakes. being formed by the
poison gland back Of each eve, told
ne at once that Alazan was keeping
Up his reputation-never did he shy
| It q harmless snake and the tiny
! ,orns, which added peculiar snd
| .rosesque hideonsness, loft no doubt
! .ha. this was a pichu -cuate. He had
| buried himself almost to the head In
! he gray sand, against which his upper
ssin was barely dis,inguishable, and
| bus in ambush was waiting for some
| hing 10 turn up.
Turning A.azau loose, knel; a. the
.a.e distance os va-i 10 stirsy the
| little creature, vh;ch fairly swelled
! x..h murderons rage. II not only
| s,rnc. naily at the cnappa-o switch !
| .hrast ont ~ Il. ot.t .. last. evidently
4 kaa& A.@- 1+p&As~ 5sA~~E -
be Switch. actuz.iv followed j. up.
E,nd xi.h such agility saa' / had 70
unp up ani back without loss 0.
..ue. The idea o. retreat never seemed
o ente- TIA. "a. heal Sometime.
.e xou.t. lie ao3 pa~ ~: Wiz H.
| .r.s~. -.r~ .arax.-- Ms mouth ~
-:de open .hs: u seemed the veao-
rust start, and sometimes be guides
| .oxa,i ne, his head 81 zach above ths
| ground, with al .;:..aie which ssened
o saw: "SsAai si.Il there .nd vel
ee who laughs
A: :ia=.l killed him. He vas nsi;he.
.srge, POUND nor iony@- than an or
i,nHy l..d pencil. cold leAden gray