^ Mr Audubon's Notes on the Rattlesnake. 



cipal meaiis of their defence. I shall proceed to elucidate, by 

 well authenticated examples, all those different faculties. 



Rattlesnakes hunt and secure for their prey with ease grey 

 squirrels that abound in our woods ; therefore they must be pos- 

 sessed of swiftness to obtain them. Having enjoyed the pleasure 

 of beholding such a chase in full view in the year 1821, 1 shall de- 

 tail its circumstances. • Whilst lying on the ground to watch the 

 habits of a bird which was new to me, previous to shooting it, I 

 heard a smart rustling not far from me, and turning my head that 

 way, saw, at the same moment, a grey squirrel full grown, issuing 

 Irom the thicket, and bouncing off in a straight direction, in leaps 

 of several feet at a time, and, not more than twenty feet behind, a 

 rattlesnake of ordinary size pursuing, drawn apparently out to its 

 full length, and sliding over the ground so rapidly that, as they 

 both moved away from me, I was at no loss to observe the snake 

 gain upon the squirrel. The squirrel made for a tree, and ascend- 

 ed to its topmost branches as nimbly as squirrels are known to do. 

 The snake performed the same task considerably more slowly, yet 

 so fast, that the squirrel never raised its tail nor barked, but eyed 

 ihe enemy attentively as he mounted and approached. When 

 within a few yards, the squirrel leaped to another branch, and 

 the snake followed by stretching out full two-thirds of its body, 

 whilst the remainder held it securely from falling. Passing thus 

 from branch to branch, with a rapidity that astonished me, .the 

 squirrel went in and out of several holes, but remained in none, 

 knowing well that, wherever its head could enter, the body of 

 his antagonist would follow ; and, at last, much exhausted and 

 terrified, took a desperate leap, and came to the earth with legs 

 and tail spread to their utmost to ease the fall. That instant the 

 snake dropt also, and was within a few yards of the squirrel be- 

 fore it had begun making off. The chase on land again took 

 place, and ere the squirrel could reach another tree, the snake 

 had seized it by the back near the occiput, and soon rolled it- 

 self about it in such a way that, although I heard the cries of 

 the victim, I scarcely saw any portion of its body. So full of 

 its ultimate object was the snake, that it paid no attention to 

 me, and I approached it to see in what manner it would dispose 

 of its prey. A few minutes elapsed, when I saw the reptile 

 loosening gradually and opening its folded coils, until the squir- 



