The daily morning journal and courier., 1906-08-09
DOWN THE PYrHoNs THROAT.

I I l. A Plucky F'our-Foot Rattler, Dis
 armed, Fought Fourteen-Foot Rubber Appetite.
 The big python foureen feet long, in
 the Central Park menagerie, and full grown rattlesnake, had fierce fight in their cage yesterday, the python final ly succeeding in conquering its enemy and then swallowing it. just as It dis- posed of a small alligator some time ago.
 There was another rattler in the den at the time, but it made no attempt to help it's companion or avenge it's death.
 And they were chums, too. They were a male and q female and had been in the park only week. Philip Raub of Dallas, Pa, sent them as a present to Director Smith. letter came with them saying that their poi son fangs had been drawn, A close watch was being kept on them in the park to see if they would raise a new set of poison teeth.
 The newcomers were about four feet long and on the tail of each were twelve rattles From this is was sup posed that the snakes were about flf- teen years old, as it Is said that the first rattle comes on the third year and an additional one each year thereafter.
 Mr. Smith was glad to get the addi- ton to his snake collection and in- structed the keeper to put the new ar- rivals in the cage occupied by the family of pythons. There are five members of this family, the largest be- ing about fourteen feet long and the smallest about seven Some time ago the keepers gave the name of Flats 'Em Alive" to the biggest one. from his disposition to make things disap- pear.
 The rattlers explored their new home from end to end. They had the floor to themselves, for the pythons were in the pool of warm water. The den is enclosed by glass on three sides. In the center of the floor are two trees with branches that reach to the ceiling The Pythons are fond of coillng about the tops of the trees and sleeping there after feeding time, which occurs once month, but recently they have passed most of their time in the pool at one end of the cage, as they are shedding their skins.
 The big python had gone through the shedding process earlier than it's mates, had on a new coat when the Pennsylvania visitors arrived and had recovered it's sight and activity. By the moon 1t was nearly time for the pythons dinner, The python seemed to think the rattling of the strangers was a challenge to fight The new corners were at the other end of the cage rattling away as usual at the vis- itors outside the glass. The female started out on another exploring trip. With head up in the air she moved to- ward the pool.
 The big African snake worked its fourteen feet of length from the pool and began to glide across the floor There was nothing hurried in its move ments, but when it got half way across the floor it paused and threw its body into several half coils with the head pointed toward the approaching rat tier There was a business-like look about this attitude that aroused the suspicious of the other snake.
 There was sudden movement of the big fellow; it's head shat forwarfd and the half coils strengthened out The rattler was on the watch and was just as quick in drawing back, flinging it. self into coil and raising an alarm on its rattles.
 The python moved forward and to one side few feet, and when 1t next hurled its head forward the rattler it's coils and made coun- ter strike with head and body. There was @ flashing of snake as the two writhed and twisted. Neither took time to coil again. The smaller one bit the big body of the foe, pulled out and coiled again. In flash the py- thon's coil came around the rattler's. The rattler's tail stuck out of the mass. rattling fainter and fainter and then ceased to rattle. The conquerer unrolled itself nd swallowed the corpse head first. To save the other rattler 1t was put in small wooden box with a wre coverng g.--New York Sun.