Mr Audubon's Notes on the Rattlesnake. 29 



that, during the whole time of its imprisonment, it did not grow 

 in the least. To w^hat extent this power of abstinence is ever 

 used, when the animal is at liberty, I am unable to tell, but I 

 have thought, that the animal possessing it so eminently, went 

 a great way towards proving that it had not that of fascination ; 

 as it would be very unnatural for an animal so gifted to lie and 

 suffer, while the single glance of a magnetic eye could bring 

 down a bird at once from the top of any tree into its mouth. 



I now and then turned the snake out of its cage, when, with 

 great quickness, it would go about the room, looking in all di- 

 rections, with a view to effect its escape. As I was armed with a 

 long stick, it never made towards me, but if I put myself in its 

 way, it would stop, prepare for action, and rattle, until I re- 

 moved, and afforded it a free passage. 



Rattlesnakes are easily disabled, and afterwards killed. A 

 single smart blow, even of a slender twig, will disjoint any part 

 of the vertebra?, after which they lie at your mercy. 



The mode of copulation used by these reptiles is so disgust- 

 ing, that I would refrain from any mention of it, were it not my 

 chief purpose to record any facts regarding them that may be 

 uncommon or little known. Early in spring, as soon as the 

 snakes have changed the skin that contained their last year's 

 growth, they issue brightly coloured, glistening with cleanliness, 

 and with eyes full of life and fire. The males and females 

 range about, in open portions of the forest, to enjoy the heat of 

 the sun, and, as they meet, they roll and entwine their bodies 

 together, until twenty, thirty, or more, may be seen twisted into 

 one mass, their heads being all turned out, and in every direc- 

 tion, with their mouths open, hissing and rattling furiously, 

 while, in the mean time, the secret function is performed. In 

 this situation they remain for several days on the same spot, 

 and the danger of approaching such a group would be very 

 great ; for, at sight of any enemy to disturb them, they all sud- 

 denly disengage, and give chace. 



The fact of their rattling, which tends to alarm intruders, and 

 to warn them of their danger, is too well known to call for any 

 observations regarding it. 



To conclude : suffer me to call to your recollection a well 

 known fact, that birds, of all kinds, are full of courage ; that 



