24 Through the Brazilian Wilderness 



itself on the table, threatening the bystanders. I put the 

 big black serpent down on the table four or five feet 

 from the enemy and headed in its direction. As soon as 

 I let go with my hands it glided toward where the threat- 

 ening, formidable-looking lance-head lay stretched in a 

 half coil. The mussurama displayed not the slightest 

 sign of excitement. Apparently it trusted little to its 

 eyes, for it began to run its head along the body of the 

 jararaca, darting out its flickering tongue to feel just 

 where it was, as it nosed its way up toward the head of 

 its antagonist. So placid were its actions that I did not 

 at first suppose that it meant to attack, for there was not 

 the slightest exhibition of anger or excitement. 



It was the jararaca that began the fight. It showed 

 no fear whatever of its foe, but its irritable temper was 

 aroused by the proximity and actions of the other, and 

 like a flash it drew back its head and struck, burying its 

 fangs in the forward part of the mussurama's body. 

 Immediately the latter struck in return, and the counter- 

 attack was so instantaneous that it was difficult to see 

 just what had happened. There was tremendous writh- 

 ing and struggling on the part of the jararaca ; and then, 

 leaning over the knot into which the two serpents were 

 twisted, I saw that the mussurama had seized the jararaca 

 by the lower jaw, putting its own head completely into 

 the wide-gaping mouth of the poisonous snake. The 

 long fangs were just above the top of the mussurama's 

 head; and it appeared, as well as I could see, that they 

 were once again driven into the mussurama ; but without 

 the slightest effect. Then the fangs were curved back in 



