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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 33, 8 February 1881, Page 4

A curious incident, which, the Precurseur, of Antwerp, states to have positively occurred at the Zoological Gardens in that town, is thus de-! scribed in one of its recent impressions. It was the hour for feeding the serpents, and two of them, born a couple of years ago in the gardens, commenced simultaneously devouring the same rabbit, one beginning operations at its head/ the other at its tail. The natural result was that in course of time they both reached the middle of the rabbit, and a dispute arose as to which, should swallow the remaining morsel. The larger serpent of the two made the greatest headway, bufc his colleague held as fast to the carcase, and in the heat of the battle, his vis-a-vis, making a desperate effort to bolt the rest of the rabbit, drew in with it the head of the smaller serpent. The body gradually followed the head into its living tomb, and soon there remained but about two decimetres of tail visible ! At this critical juncture the keepers perceived what was passing, and a couple of them entered the cage to rescue the victim from its unpleasant position. After considerable difficulty they succeeded in obtaining a firm grasp on the bit of tail, and with a long pull and . a strong pull brought back the serpent in safety, none the worse for the adventure. The swallower, however, was rather indisr posed for the next few hours, says the journal which. relates this most extraordinary story, but both serpents are now in their normal condition, again. Colonel Gordon is credited by, the North Chiua Herald with having offered this plain language to the Chinese Ministry: — "It-is-idiotic for. Chma to think she can, take, the ■ ifleld against Russia. But, if you will 'fight, ithen carry your Court and Eurpsror, yqur archives, and all the rusty and creaking machinery of your central government, far away into the interior of the country, for, once jhostilities are begun on the eastern seaboard, Russia will, in a few Aveeks, be mistress of Peking. Only be assured that this means the downfall of your dynasty/ 1 ; The Panama Star of November 24th has this : — The late steamer from the South had some passengers who were not down on the list, but made things lively on board. A new species of snake was shipped at a Southern port, properly boxed and duly consigned to the Zoological Gardens, London. All went well, and the stranger to science enjoyed her home in a life-boat fairly well. On the morning of the vessel's arrival off Panama, about four o'clock, it was observed that a large number of young snakes were running over the decks, ropes, stanchions, &c. A fight was organised by the officer on duty, who took an active, part until bitten in the finger, when " the subsequent proceedings interested him no more." On -arrival, at this, port the wounded officer was conveyed on shore and placed under Dr. Wolfred Nelson's care, who at once used the new Anglo-Indian treatment for the bites of venomous snakes, . by ejecting a solution of dilute ammonia into ' both arms, as well as administering the same internally, with stimulants, . . The finger .was laid open and freely cauterized with pure ' nitric acid. The part hadturned : black ere i leaving the vessel. The outlook for a time was not cheering. Later in the.day.he was pro- ' nounced out of danger, and returned to the . ; vessel. His ambition to fight snakes is over. 1 During the night .the. snake in., the life-boat . had added upwards of fifty of these little jokers to the ship's company. They were from twelve to sixteen inches long, an inch : ; and a half round, an 4 very" active, showing fight when approached. It is unnecessary to say that mother, and family were duly consigned to the deep, except three specimens (dead) in Dr. Nelsen's possession. The European Mail says : — " The news of the murder of Lieatenarit Bowyer'andisjx of, the crew of H.M.S. Sandfly' by the natives of ' the Solomon Islands, has been received in England with great regret. There is no doubt thatthe gallant officer and his then have fallen victims to a feeling of revenge prompted by the punishment inflicted on the islanders by the crew of the Ripple for the murder of their captain and comrades. 'But whatever may have been the motive ;f or the, murder, it must not go uncorrected, and the natives of the Solomon islands must be at once taught that they cannot treat Europeans as they like with impunity., There is a, feeling at Home amongst those who have, lived in Australia that the hands of our naval officers in the South Seas are too ciosejy tied, and t.hat the policy of the HighCommissioner Sir Arthur Gordon is b£;a,' much too lenient character.^. It is. well, known that Sir Arthur Gordon in, his dealings with the natives is influenced *to a riot inconsiderable extent by the Aborigines' Protection Society in .England-,; and , that he is most unwilling to sanction the employment, of force against them. But tHis latest; acj;' of treachery must be punished '.with" tbV severity it deserves, and -we have no 'doubt'! that before this reaches; our readers .a." mhu- j of- war will have been sent 0 the spot .to , eppire jntd the w&*'*sßlilffift-&£b&