Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 July 1877 — Cat Charmed by a Snake. [ARTICLE]

Cat Charmed by a Snake.

While riding near the entrance to Grand Boulevard, yesterday, the attention of a Tribune reporter was,,culled tQ. the antics of a half-grown kitten in the grass by the roadside. When first noticed, the little animal appeared to be in a paroxysm of fright, but as the writer paused to watch its strange movements, its manner changed to apparently an ecstacy or delight. It leaped up wildly upon its hind feet, plunged up and down, but did- not advance or recede a foot from the spot to which it appeared <to be transfixed. At last it laid down upon the groun 1, relied over, with its tail rigid and curved, and at last stretched out at full length upon its side, absolutely exhausted. It remained perfectly motionless for several seconds',' and the spectator imagined that life had departed from the little form, a slight stir in the tall grads near by was ‘noticed, and a large snake, about three feet long, glided towaid the prostrate cat, its head erect, its eyes gleaming like two coals of fire, its forked tongue darting from between its jaws. The reptile was headed in the opposite direction from the intruder, and it was unconscious of the presence of anyone to interfere with its operations. As the snake neared its victim, and when within about two feet of it, it halted, regarded the unconscious object intently for a moment as dtc lay at full length, and then coiled jtself up, with its head still erect, and tretfabliHg vicflenfly with. excitement. ’ It seemed to be on tho point of making a spring, when the reporter’s horse made a movement which diverted the monster from its prey, and it quickly dropped its head to the ground and lay low, as is the nature df the creature when suddenly surprised. At the same instant the spell upon the kitten was apparently broken, for it gave a hgttthing 4 bound of about two feet intp the air, came down to the ground, looked about for an instant and then walked off, in a weak» condition, toward a dwelling-housei The reptile moved slowly off into the, tall grass, in an opposite direction, and was. soon lost to view. It was of the species known as the Ufilk-snalte, which, though not common in these parts, is sometimes i seen in the rural districts. It has a spotted coat, not unlike that of the rattle' snake, though somewhat lighter in color/ 1 It is considered harmless, not poisonous, and is a great toward, although H attains great size. It is a great robber of birds’ nests wnen it can find them on the ground, and it has been known-to destroy a ken’s nest full oi eggs, which it breaks open and sucks the contents of. It is said that it will even attack sni&ll chickens in the grass, if it can catch a straggler at a distance from the parent hen, and mice frequently fall a prey to it. But rt was somewhat remarkable to see it sv successfully i charm so active and ferocious an animal as a half-grown cat, which W wotildddnbtless have found rather dififouit toswallow. —Chicago I'ribiune. t ~? t j Pickled Apples.—Thftjte pounds of sugar, seven pounds of apples* quartered and cored, one pint of vinegar. Steam the apples until a fork will go through them readily. Then make a syrup of the sugar and vinegar and pour over them while hot. Stick a clove Of two teach quarter. Very niote. fl !