TWO PYTHONS ATTACK A BULL.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2570, 29 December 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

TWO PYTHONS ATTACK A BULL.

One of the most remarkablti scones on record ; s reported as having been witnessed in t-liv* vicinity of Table Mountain. A troop of cattle, o.otisi-ting of 12 cows mid a patriarchal old bull, were grazing on ono of the plateau-like spurs of the mountain, which i* surroundod on three sines by precipitous ravines, and on the fourth side, (hat. nearest the tnoiuitiiin, by denso bush. .Some natives higher up the mountain were attraded by iho sudden bellowing of tin! eat tie, and saw two enormous pythons coming out of tile bush ami making for the cattle, widen had drawn themselves up ill a eomp.trt group, with the hull at its head. As the pythons drew near the animals .gradually haeked till they stood mi ii small space that jutted nut over a tremendous prceioice. At this stage a sudden rush was made, but only one heifer succeeded in escaping. The nl lier cattle lowing in the most piteous manuer, gradually haeked, and one by mil.' fell ..ver Ihe precipice, till finally the hull only was left. He suddenly charged at the bigge-t. python, trausiixing the reptile on his horns, but the second snake seized the bull in its folds, uml, Imving it- tail round u huge boulder, 'commenced to crush Mm bull, which, moaning piteonsly, struggled frantically to escape. The tail of the python lost its hold of the rock, but the hirjrer snake, which had slipped off the horn, lapping its tail around « smaller boulder opposite the one the other snake had just released, seized the bull and compressed the animal in its scaly fold*. The other python succeeded in regaining its former positiou, and the bull was literally suspended in mid air by the snakes. The whole scene looked like some ghastly triumphal arch. The snakes were evidently getting the best of the poor brute, which was bleeding profusely, when, by a sudden effort, his struggles forced both reptiles to loose their hold of the rocks, and the whole three were hurled into the ravine beneath. The cattle were found on the first ledge of the precipice, all being dead, but' the bull and the pythons had bounded from ledge to ledge, and were found liiO feet below the scene of the fight. The bull was merely a. mangled mass and the snakes were greatly mutilated, the larger one having the vertebrae broken in nine places. The pythons, which were of the rock species, were male and female, and :neasnred respectively -10 feet. 3 inches and 3G feet 9J inches.—Natal Witness.