CAT AND RATTLESNAKE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 222, 18 September 1880, Page 4

CAT AND RATTLESNAKE.

The following tale ia told by the Americus, Ga. "Republican'' :— About two weeks ago, duriDg the beautiful sunny weather we have had, which induced the trees to bud and bloom, I was walking in my garden one morning, thinking of an early start for spring vegetables, when I saw s large rattle-

snake sunning. My first impulse was to go to the bouse, get my gun and kill it. But looting around I saw a very large house-cat cautiously creeping upon the reptile. Anticipating a fight, and equally desirous of getting rid of the cat, which killed chickens, I concluded to witness his rttack upon the snake. The cat crawled upon its stomach, pulling along its feet, whiflking its tail from' eide to side, and every now and then- stretching its neck to view the snake. When about eight or ten feet off, the snake suddenly coiled up, sprung its rattle, faced the oat, and darted its forked tongue out rapidly. The cat commenced a rapid circle around the snake, so fast, in fact, that the eye could hardly keep up with it. At last it got near enough, and wade a dart at its enemy, but, through providential reasons, went high above the suake, which also struck at the cat, thus breaking its coil. The cat went too far, and by the time it turned to face its foe the reptile was again coiled and ready for the attack. The Bame method was adopted and oarried on for four or five licnes, occupying at least balf-an-hour. The cat wished to catch the snake, bat eeemed aware that if it missed the neck it would be certain death. At the sixth as3Rult they met, and icstantly the snake was wrapped in several folds around the body of the cat, which used its sharp claws with deadly effect. The cat bad been bitten on the head and neck several times, and both continued to fight. The snake was tora nearly to sbreds, but didnoi. unloose its coil around its victim. The poison was swift nnd deadly, but before the cat died it caught the snake's bead in its mouth and crushed it, and fight* ibg they died, the snake enwrapping the ~ cat in its coils. The snake measured 4ft Bio., and had thirteen rattles.