Snakes As Dairy-maids

Samuel C. Gates, living near here, says a Manatec (Fia.) lotter to tho St. Louis GlobeDmmocrat, prides himself on his Une cows. Becenüy he noticed that one of them gave very little milk and he carne to the conclusión tliat she was mjlked before she reached the yard. The ol.hor day he determined to watch for the thief, and taking his gun careíully went out to where they were grazing. He secured a positiou near this particular cow where he wa9 screened and "waited. For two hours he remained there, notseeing any thing suspicious. Suddenly ho noticed two big black snakes glido out of a branch near by. They went through the herd, the cows not minding theio, and procecded directly to this cow. To Mr. Gates' great astonishment ho saw one of them coil itself up undcr tho cow and reaching up graaped a tcat and bogan sucking. Tho cow seemcd indifferent, as she stood till, but stopped chowing her cud. After suking for a few minutes the lh-st snake Btopped and moved to one side, when Uie second one moved up and took its place and began enjoying its feast of fresh milk. Mr. Gales thought this was too much of a good thmg and moved out to have his sharo of the port. As soon as she saw liiin the cow bellowed loudly and ran off. The snakes coiled themselves up and darted out their tongue leüantly at him. Movin? around till ha ot. thom both in line ho fired at them, ■blowing their hcads oft They were found to be male and female and very largo speciimcns, one measuvin nearly seven ieoi Uong, but not very large arouud. This is tb (firat instance, Mr. Gates says, he ever saw Iwbero two snakes worked together and etned to know u8t lwrw to dirido good