OUR HOME BIRDS. 
149 
“It is, indeed,” was the reply, “but too many 
thoughtlessly pursue their own amusement at the 
expense of others. A great many silly stories have 
been told of the fascination which the black snake 
possesses over the cat-bird, but these are without any 
foundation. It has been said that the bird has been 
drawn by this strange power from the secure top of 
a tree into the open mouth of its enemy below ; but, 
instead of this, the cat-bird often comes off victorious 
from its frequent battles with the black snake, caused 
by the latter’s strong partiality for its eggs and 
young. Somebody once witnessed such a battle. 4 It 
took place/ he says, 4 in a gravel-walk in the garden, 
near a dry wall of stone. I was within a few yards 
of the combatants. The bird pounced or darted upon 
the snake, snapping his bill ; the snake would then 
draw himself quickly into a coil, ready for a blow; 
but the bird would cautiously circumvent him at a 
little distance, now and then running up to and snap- 
ping at him, but keeping at a sufficient distance to 
avoid a blow. After some minutes it became a run- 
ning fight, the snake retreating ; and at last he took 
shelter in the wall. The cat-bird had young ones in 
the bushes near the field of battle.’ ” 
44 1 am glad the snake didn’t get ’em,” said little 
Edith. 
44 Now,” said Miss Harson, 44 we are coming to the 
13 * 
