A MILK-LOVING SNAKE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 74, 28 March 1895, Page 3

A MILK-LOVING SNAKE.

IN BED WITH A BABY.

Skakes have been very prevalent in and around Bulli (Queensland) of late. A married woman who resides at the half-way house, near the Bulii Pass, had a startling experience a few days ago. She wa3 in the habit of leaving her baby in the bed with its feeding bottle, while engaged at household work. Several times the mother was puzzled how the bottle was emptied so rapidly, bub the other day, returning to the room for something, she was horrified to see on the bed a large black snake, which fled at her approach, f.t is surmised that the snake sucked the milk from the bottle through the ordinary rubber nipple. Three of the reptiles were seen about the bouse during the week, but thin last experience has decided the. mother to seek a fresh home elsewhere. This story from Bulli, says the " Sydney News," is by no means a singular or incredible one. There is a well authenticated instance of a child of tender years in the Williams River District makking a constant companion of a black snake, and regularly at every meal going to a retired spot about its parents' house, and allowing the teptile to feed out of its pannikin of bread and milk. The curious companionship was discovered by the child talking to the snake in the way children usually talk to pet animal?,' and occasionally giving ib a playful rap over the head with the spoon when the repfile dipped into the pannikin out of its regular turn.