TrfE BLACK SNAKE, 75 



^ > ; . i . ; . .; 



B<ld enough to attack a man. 



brittle, that if, when pursued, they get their head 

 into a hole, and a person seize hold of the tail^ 

 this will often twist itself to pieces. 



This snake, though not poisonous, is some- 

 times bold enough to attack a man, but may be 

 driven off by a smart stroke from a stick, or 

 whatever other weapon he may chance to have 

 in his hand. When it overtakes a person who 

 has endeavored to escape, (not having had cou- 

 rage enough to oppose it,) it is said to wind 

 itself round his legs in such a manner as to 

 throw him down, and then to bite him several 

 times in the leg, or wherever it can lay hold of; 

 and run off again. In the spring of 1748, Dr. 

 Colden had several workmen at his country seat; 

 and among them one just arrived from Europe, 

 who, of course, knew but little of the qualities of 

 the black snake. The other workmen, who ob- 

 served a male and female lying together, out of 

 sport engaged their new companion to kill one. 

 of them. He accordingly approached them with 

 a stick in his han'd : this the male observed, and 

 made towards him. The man little expected to 1 

 find such courage in the reptile, and, flinging 

 awav his stick, ran off as fast as he was able. 



/ 



The snake pursued, overtook him, and, twisting 

 several times round his legs, threw him down, 

 and almost frightened the poor fellow out of his 

 senses. He could not rid himself of th,e animal 

 without cutting it through in two or three places- 

 with a knife. 



