383 On the fascinating Power of Snakes. 



straining the way he seemed unwilling to fly, and holding 

 t the sprigs he was perched upon, that the sapling top 

 bent. After he had viewed the bird a few minutes, it 

 quitted the place, and made a circle or two higher in the 

 air, and then resumed its former standing, fluttering and 

 crying. Thereupon William rode the way the bird strained, 

 and soon spied a large black snake in coil, steadily eyeing 

 the bird. He gave the snake a lash with his whip ; and 

 this taking off the snake's eye from his prey, the charm was 

 broken, and away fled the bird, changing his note to a son<r 

 of joy. 



M Mr. Nicholas Scull, a surveyor, told me, that when 

 he was a young man he happened once to be leaning upon 

 a fence, and looking over it, he saw a large rattlesnake in 

 coil looking- stedfastly at him. Me found himself surprised 

 and listless immediately, and had no power/or about a minute 

 (as he thinks) but to look at the snake, and then he had the 

 resolution to push himself from the fence and turn away ; 

 feeling such horror and confusion as he would not undergo 

 again for any consideration. 



" Y>\\ Chew tells me, a man in Maryland was found fault 

 with by his companion that he did not come along : the 

 companion stepping toward him, observed that his eyes 

 were fixed upon a rattlesnake, which was gliding slowly 

 towards him, with his head raised as if he was reaching up 

 at him. The man was leaning towards the snake, and 

 saying to himself, e He will bite me ! he will bite me !' 

 Upon which his companion caught him by the shoulder, 

 pulled him about, and cried out, * What the devil ails you ? 

 He will bite you sure enough !' This man found himself 

 very sick after his enchantment. " 



In addition to the above instances, I shall relate the fol- 

 lowing, which was told me by Mr. Thomson, a gentleman 

 who resided fourteen years at Burlinton, near Philadelphia, 

 and in whose house I now lodge. He sa\s, that one day 

 as he was fishing in a brook near Burlinton, he turned his 

 head aside, and saw a very large black snake steadily eyeing 

 him : from that moment all power of moving was taken 

 from him ; he stood motionless and filled with horror, unable 

 to avoid the snake, which he saw approaching towards him. 

 From this unpleasant situation he was removed by a dog 

 which was with him, who coming up from a short distance, 

 immediately saw the snake and flew at it. As soon as the 

 snake turned from him to avoid the dog, he felt his powers 

 return ; notwithstanding which he felt himself ill for some 

 time after. 



3 A variety 



