FIGHT BETWEEN A CROW AND AN AFRICAN SNAKE.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2283, 12 July 1880, Page 3

FIGHT BETWEEN A CROW AND AN AFRICAN SNAKE.

A curious struggle between two very unequalled matched combatants is reported from Tembuland, South Africa, lay an Englishman who was an eyewitness of the event related. His attention being attracted by an unusual commotion among a flock of crows in a lonely part of the country, he rode up towards (he spot, and found one of the birds engaged in a close contest with one of the poisinous snakes known as the “righals” {Seprdon luemachafca). The reptile was about three feet in length, and had apparently been defending itself for some time against (lie attack of its feathered opponent, as it was evidently exhausted, and bore many wounds on different parts of his body. Still, the fight lasted about a quarter of an hour, the crow attempting to seize the snake by the neck, and the latter trying in vain to insert its fangs in the body of the bird. At last the reptile, which had been fighting partially erect, suddenly fell down, when the crow immediately made a dart upon him, seized him iiy the neck, bore him to a great height into the air, and then allowed him to drop upon (lie heap of stones on which the combat had taken place. The bird (lien quickly returned and repeated the manceuvre over and over again until the snake was quite dead.