A STRANGE CONTEST BETWEEN A HAWK AND A RATTLESNAKE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2793, 7 June 1890, Page 5 (Supplement)

A STRANGE CONTEST BETWEEN A HAWK AND A RATTLESNAKE.

« A I'ARTV of Illinois sportsmen a savage contest on the banks of Darnctt Lake, opposite lilizabethtown, 111., recently between a large hawk and nn immense rattlosnake that had evidently crawled from an adjoining hillside to the lake after water. Their attention whs first attracted to the hawk suddenly dartinsr from his position in a pecan tree to the ground, and then rising to repeat the same operation. Seeing the li'iwk repeat this a dozen or more times aruused the curiosity of the sportsinon to ascertain the oause of its strange actions. Creeping through the buihes they arrived at the edge of a small opening and worn surprised to fini) a large r;tn!.--suake with the blood oozing from several wounds in its back iiml hides. With its head erect ilm enraged reptile was watching every movement of its feathered enemy. The haul; seemed to instinctively realise that it had the sympathy of the hunters, and as tluiy took their position within a few yards of the rattler, it made a another dart at in dangerous foe. To avoid the reptiles deadly fangs the hawk would swoop down as if to attack the tiuukc, and '.suddenly wheel to one uido to avoid Ihuiitfokc and then return ami make his attack ln>for<: the snake had time to recoil. This was repeated tiinc after lime, and the rattler evidently realising that it was gelling tho worst of this strange engagement, suddenly uncoiled aud started on a hasty i-ctroal fur a log heap near by. Taking in tliu tjituatiou the hawk made a sudden dart, aud ealehiug the reptile just behind tho head with its sharp talons it raised the snake from the ground and soared away to the north-east, the frantic movements of the euake's body being visible as far as the eye could discern.