Democratic Sentinel, Volume 6, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 August 1882 — Fascinated by a Snake. [ARTICLE]

Fascinated by a Snake.

A veritable instance of the peculiar fascination which the snake exerts was witnessed within a short distance of our city. The •gentlemen who saw this says he was walking leisurely along the road when his attention was directed to the movements of a brown thrash which was fluttering about near a small plum bush, and, at intervals, giving a cry as of distress. He walked up to the bush supposing he would find a brood of young birds. He looked carefully, but saw nothing, and was walking off, when he noticed that the thrush had returned to the bush from which he had frightened it. He waited a moment to watch its movements, when he saw it fly down on the ground beneath the plnm. There it stood still a short while, then began to circle around the trash, still crying in its peculiar tones. This circling was kept up for a while, and then the thrush seemed gradually to weaken, and at length stood perfectly still—immovable, with its wings partly open, and with its head bent forward. He drew nearer to the bush, when he heard an ominous hiss, and, looking down under the plum, saw a huge black suake coiled up and about to spring upon the bird. He frightened the snake away and picked up the bird, which made no effort to escape, and seemed powerless. In a few minutes, however, the bird revived, and shortly afterward flew off,— Petersburg Index.