A SNAKE-STORY.
go MR EDITOR Or TH1 " SPRCTIITOR."1
Sitt,—In the Spectator of August 22nd there is a snake-story by "C. N." I wish to offer my experience, which extends over a period of twenty-four years in the Australian bush,— -Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia. I think "C. N." cannot have had great experience of snakes, though I do not for one moment doubt the experience he describes, though it is by no means common,—at all events as regards the bush-bred horse. I have killed scores of 'snakes, and seen perhaps hundreds, often when riding about, but I have never known any horse show signs of terror at the sight of a snake ; the most I have known them to do is shy a little if a snake appeared suddenly, and very often not that. I have repeatedly held my horse's rein in one hand whilst I despatched a snake with the doable of my stock-whip. On one occasion I leant over my horse and cut at a very large -brown snake with my whip. Instead of making off the rep- tile came deliberately at me, and reared up between my horse's legs. The stockman who was with me told me afterwards that the snake's head was within six inches of my foot. My horse, instead of testifying any fear or even moving, stood perfectly quiet ; had he moved very probably his life would have been saved. As it was, the snake bit him somewhere on the hind-leg, and he was dead in twenty minutes.—I am,
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