Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image

HOW RATTLER PROTECTS YOUNG.

"During my 10 years' stay in Montana t liad some experience with the rattlesnake," said an old hunter oT Seattle, discussing this poisonous reptile and sonlo of its characteristics. He continued: "In Montana many have been killed by the rattlesnake. The most dangerous period is what is known as the dog days of July and August. In these months the reptiles arc blind and always coiled for action. / Very few people ever recover if bitten during either of these months, • as the rattlers are more poisonous at this period- than at any other time. The rattler is very savago in its blind -condition, and will strike at all sounds that appear near him. "Although we are king of all animals, we hate to meet Mr Snake. The people of Washington should be thankful to have, such a prosperous State, splendid climate, and to be entirely clear of the poisonous nests that people in 'many countries dread. I have been informed by good authority that plans are under, way to start a big rattlesnake farm near Seattle, the object of the enterprise being to furnish the market with snakfi oil, which brings a higlr price the world over. "In the first week of September, 1890, I I had' a queer experience with a rattle- ! snake family. This is a-true story. I | was on a hunting expedition in the [ South Crow Creek country 111 Montana. The morning was cold, and chilly. I was in a hurry to cross the Quartzite Divide,, whicli is 'the home of the dreadful reptiles. in .picking my way over tiin rough surface I generally followed old game,trails, especially when they led any way near my direction. I just reached the first big butte close _to th<* summit when a large rattler"jumped from a flat- boulder and challenged me to fight. She almost struck me before I succeeded in. /getting away from her reach. She was more than five feet long and game to the tail. X think it* was the most vicious snake I ever met- during my travels in various mountain countries. In looking raround to-see what. I could find in the: nature of a weapon to kill th"is venomous enemy, I nearly stepped on a large hunch of baby snakes: The little poisoners were huddled up close together. They were about sm. long, brownish in color, 14 in all, and certainly were true counterparts of their mother-'who was.only a few.yards away. You can imagine.my surprise 111 looking down on this reptilian family. . I about to get a step closer, when the old snake made a peculiar noise. I had no; idea what it meant, but I wSs soon informed by the Wise ones ; thev knew the call and made a dash for mother. She received them■ with open mouth, swallowing her little darlings- as fast as nature allowed her to give them transportation. It was comical to see those little reptiles hurrying over the rough ground to obey mother's call when sho gave them the signal of danger. "After storing her babi=s she looked twice her former size, and, expecting trouble, coiled herself for battle. At this moment a thought struck me that I could kill the reptile with my rifle, although I had never heard: of any 0110 shooting a snake. Drawing a fine bead 011 the bodv of many lives, I penetrated her centre with four shells from my 'lO- - "Winchester rifle."

This article text was automatically generated and may include errors. View the full page to see article in its original form.
Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/OAM19121214.2.86

Bibliographic details

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11805, 14 December 1912, Page 3 (Supplement)

Word Count
573

HOW RATTLER PROTECTS YOUNG. Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11805, 14 December 1912, Page 3 (Supplement)

HOW RATTLER PROTECTS YOUNG. Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11805, 14 December 1912, Page 3 (Supplement)