New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-14
CALIFORNIA SNAKE STORIES.
TIE 'RATTLEsNAKE LIZARD" AND HIS FRIEND
SHIP FOR THE CEOTALvs-A POPLAR
BELIEF pISPRONED.

RELIEF pISPRoNED
san Diego. Cal. March 20 (s2ec!aD. -"Ra;tlesnate
lizards" are rare The capture Of one of these rep
tiles near FL Cajon recently delighted scientists
The creature Is more startling in appearance thah
is the snake after which it IL named 1t locks some
thing like the CHA monster. but IS Of iercer aspect
than that much-dreaded lizard Its tranSular-shapeH
head T. indicative Of poison sacks back OF s snake
Ike fangS. There wcll-authenticated records
in this county Of any one having been killed by the
bite Of a rattlesnake lizard. yet its fangs are re-
garled deadly. At first glarce it might be ms
taken for ! small rattesnake on legs. The head and
body closely resemble those of a "rattler from
twelve to fifteen inches long and without any
rattles 1t gives warning Of It's presence, Ak
does the rattlcsnake, but when cornered 1t hsnts
lust as vicously az the serpent There seems to 0e
an affection existing between the snake and the
lizard The specimen taken near FL Cajon attracted
the attention Of its captors while frolicking with
four foot rattlesnake. The lizard would run about
the snake apparently in fun. the latter now and
then Jumping at the Hard if trying to catch H.
Occasionally they would come together and ro!!
over and over not once trying to bite each other.
The markings OF the lizards body are more brill
ian; than those OF the rattlesnake's. The diamond
outlines on the former are blue. black brown and
white. Its belly is Of bright yellow. Wien at
tackled with "A stick Il thrusts its fangs into the
wood precisely as the rattesnake does. II springs
IT its aggressor almost rs full length. for the
slender legs possess great muscular power
In speaking Of curious experiences with snakes on
the desert between here and FL Paso. Colonel
J. W. Barrow. t. :. A.. OF the Engineer corps
who was at the head Of the International Boundary
Commission engaged in erecting monuments mark
INK thu Mexican llnc said: "Whie riding into
camp day espied a large bull snake II had
an exceptionally beautiful skin. The markings of
the back exquisite. | tried 10 Kill tho reptile
without injuuns the skin. Putting 1t in my saddle
bag journeyed on to camp. Upon looking Tor the
/ l.. found .b.,. had
salllebag some " here along the trail mile from
camp | found The body whore 1t had fallen from
my saddle This time | killed it, as thought, for
good. and returned 70 camp. Hanging the repule
D. the head. / made sufficient incision below the
head 10 star, The skin and quickly stripped the
d,i'catey marked hide from the body. The naked
snake remained hanging whore left it. Next
morning WHOM / was passing the supposed snake
corpse you imagine my surprise at behodInS
the slIinlcss reptile twisting and squirting 10 Se'
out Of IN" moose which suspended 1t IN the ar
The absence Of he skin didn't appear to worry
II at All When had released the hideous, squrm'
| Ing ms, from The moose suspending II the snake
! attempted to glide away, bu' OWING 20 ue 100
! through the sand and II appeared 10 be somewhat
! perpleNed - W Killed it. , -, .....
Al another time the Colonel continued, y was
gaiopng over tn desert when snake ten or twelve
! is", long started from the bushes. 10 wa y,., d
| iu Wt lie hay" seen snake run 50 Iaht, m
/ credible DIS il may seem. that snake Kept afcaf
!
wasn't riding thr"c-minnte morse but Inc a.,
! nal was lod one and carried me over we
! ground rapidly. | rmDti"l my revolver Az ue
] srak.. but couldn't hit u. After Keeping up inc
! cna- for fifteen or twenty minutes. gave u Gp.
! Tho natives told m that this swift reple was a
Ans snake. out It's color did not resemble tha' q
| the Eastern king snak" , D.,
! shooting a: snakes recalled - the mind OF on
! pr Nichols who was a medical director ull'l Htl.,
| eral sherman IN the famous 'march 10 the sea- an
| Nichols has been a great traveller ana mas a
| many snake experiences. That Mexican rdtlt-
| snake" n. said was the toughest one eyer saw
| We -tartpi him tho side Of rocky canon re
was ful II life AND hight should say that ne WI
fully ten feet long rs 70 one car.i - lpp,p ), Il
tro snake. I shot him with my Winchrsjer me.
Every nullct entered that snak-s body ana il VS.
untI .mptIet th. InAsaz4ne 81 the I'm. =" =.
! Kill him. The Las. bGlet happenei 20 oredN inc
! su.nlI c.ri and GUIDED the agony
| Captain Mcdonald. a retir"i army '-nS,l' VIZ
su.rl Is his winters IN san Diego occisi many OF =
f.r.on exists between the prairie dog aNi tle 1ttir
cake Many believe that the ht;e burr yer a.;
mo -u4 k. occupy the same hole I'm peace. pam
! Ncp,nilI released snake AMI doS N ne t3 9,
~ bis cabin iu orl"r TO ohS"rN" tnei 'rntN,' "a,
| .r.t,ir.r squared III for fight the instant NIcl
| ..rI.1 rho door TGe sn1k" drrw back lazy 70
| mix. m, vrair.e dog. The latter was wary ne
! l.., lt. of r4nr. ot ~" snakes Ii4'Er .i.t u.
| ,r.,inl the serpent .n circle lie ran witty ioi
o., minute. or SD. seemingly trying . MAKE t.'
,.,i,.. .iizzv or confused Tn" "rat;ierS g." i24-
f.v,.'i every movement ~ mo proper in'u"H' we
li.,la ,rfmal -prauE - on The Snah" Win anna a.
I'm. aNif,na-~. erlZ.ns his victim close 10 tI'
l.,f .nI b'.,, through IN" spinal cord Not aus
d.. -. e., ,r. of tho snake for its "ntr" eNgth
| V-,or ,r. body Of the snake Was nuns up IN tle
,,r,i,t. logs case h. kept away rom IT, az -
I'M \ IN. corpse susi!cou~ly is II II hal Neel