Am Exciting Encounter.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 143, 18 June 1887, Page 3 (Supplement)

Am Exciting Encounter.

A .workman on Linsay Point has informed a reporter of a terrible conflict between a snake aiid a rat. His story is as follows :—The snake was of unubual size.and of a different appearance from those commonly found in water. The rat was of the ordinary brown variety, and was runnino- along the shore when the fight began. The snake was coiled upon a little point of mud just above the water, sunning itself, and probably asleep. Ihe rat, apparently without noticing the snake, ran directly into the latter saws ; that is, it jumped directly upon the folds of the : serpent's body. The snake struck instantly, fastening its fangs between the rat's shoulders. Then beganacontest that in its small way was truly thrilling. The rat, struggling violently, endeavoured to shake itself free, while the snake as persistently endeavoured to drag the head of its victim into its own mouth. This feat it was at first unable to accomplish. The rat was game, and as it writhed in its convulsive efforts to escape bit the big snake severely in the neck, just at the back of the head, until the blood flowed and mixed with its own. The counter attacks became at last so savagely painful that the snake loosened its grip, remaining, however, in half-coil. But the respite was too brief to afford the rat an opportunity to escape, for again the snake's tierce jaws descended and closed, this time around the rat's head. But the struggle was by no means over. The heavy body of the rat still swayed violently, but dragged with- it the head of the snake, until the latter, was thrown completely out of coil. By this time, however, the rat's struggles had grown comparatively faint, and the snake was apparently the victor. But the next moment tho. snake in its tuTn began to struggle violently, as if to release its adversary's head, but ineffectually; the reason soon became fully apparent. The rat had bitten quite through the snake's throat and its sharp teeth could be distinctly seen in tHe narrow slit they made. The writhings of the snake were now intense. It lashed the ground with its thick folds to almost half its length from the ground.' The spectator stood hesitant, scarcely knowing whether he ought or not to The next moment he was .powerless in the premises, for the snake, with one last convulsive effort, threw half its length into the muddy water, and the doughty twain sank together to a common death.