REPTILES. 
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had lasted about five minutes, the second found means to 
disengage itself from the first, and hurried towards the 
ditch. Its antagonist instantly assumed a new posture, 
and, lialf-crccping, half-erect, with a majestic mein, over- 
took aud attacked the other again, which placed itself in a 
similar attitude, and prepared to resist. The scene was 
uncommon and beautiful ; for, thus opposed, they fought 
with their jaws, biting each other with the utmost rage ; 
but, notwithstanding this appearance of mutual courage 
and fury, the Water Snake still seemed desirous of retreat- 
ing towards the ditch, its natural element. This was no 
sooner perceived by the keen-eyed Black one, than, twisting 
its tail twice round a stalk of hemp, and seizing its adver- 
sary by the throat, not by means of its jaws, but by twist- 
ing its own neck twice round that of the Water Snake, he 
pulled it back from the ditch. To prevent a defeat, the 
latter took hold likewise of a stalk on the hank, and, by 
the acquisition of that point of resistance, became a match 
for his fierce antagonist. Strange was this to behold ; two 
great Snakes strongly adhering to the ground, mutually 
fastened together by means of the writhings which lashed 
them to each other, and stretched at their full length; 
they pulled, but pulled in vain ; aud, in the moments of 
greatest exertion, that part of their bodies which was en- 
twined seemed extremely small, while the rest appeared 
inflated, and now and then convulsed with strong undula- 
tions rapidly following each other. Their eyes appeared 
on fire, and ready to start out of their heads. At one time 
the couflict seemed decided ; the Water Snake bent itself 
into great folds, and by that operation rendered the other 
more than commonly outstretched ; the next minute the 
