RATTLESNAKE HISTORY. 275 



hath a Rattle at the End of his Tail, wherewith he maketh 

 a Noise when any one approacheth nigh him : which seemeth 

 to be a peculiar Providence of God to warn People to avoid 

 the Danger ; for this Creature is so venomous that the Bite 

 of it is of most dangerous Consequence, unless they make 

 use of the proper Antidote, of which I shall take occasion to 

 speak somewhat hereafter.' 



Such accounts, coupled with the interest awakened -in 

 the members of the Royal Society by the Florentine ex- 

 perimentalists, caused the first arrival of a rattlesnake in 

 England to be a grand era in ophiological annals ; and 

 with its eventful appearance began its scientific history. 



The published records of the PJiilosophical Transactions 

 again perpetuate the impressions it created, and also many 

 collateral points of interest. 



A paper entitled Vipera Catidisona Americana ; or, The 

 Anatomy of a Rattle-Snake, was read by Dr. Edward Tyson, 

 of the Royal Medical College of London, in 1683 ; who dis- 

 sected one at the repository of the Royal Society in Jan. 

 1682. (The above scientific name is erroneously attributed 

 to Laurenti, 1768.) 



That nothing of much value to science was previously 

 known about the reptile we gather from Dr. Tyson's 

 introductory words. ' It were mightily to be wisht that we 

 had the most compleat account of so Curious an Ajiinial. 

 This which we Dissected was sent to Mr. Henry Loades, a 

 merchant in London, from Virginia, who was pleased not 

 only to gratify the Ctiriosity of the Royal Society, in showing 

 it them alive, but likewise gave it them when dead.' 



Thus did Mr. Loades unconsciously immortalize himself 



