J^A TTLE SNAKE HIS TOR V, 291 



a part, without finding mention of a rattlesnake. Within a 

 very few years the subject has been popularized In our own 

 zoological journals also. 



In connection with the venom come of course the cures, 

 concerning which the experiments of Dr. Weir Mitchell 

 form a notable point in rattlesnake history. But serpent 

 venom and its remedies, so far as lies within my province 

 to discuss them, come also in a special chapter. 



In concluding this one, I will roughly enumerate the species 

 of rattlesnakes now best known. We have seen that formerly 

 only one or two different kinds were noticed, and the sub- 

 sequent multiplication of species is due almost as much to 

 science and to a more careful observation of the distinguishing 

 features, as to the discovery of absolutely new ones. 



The frequent ExplorlngExpeditions fitted out by the United 

 States Government for Geographical Boundaries, Pacific 

 Railroads, Geological Surveys, etc., with always a zoologist 

 on their Staff of Scientific Men, have added much to our 

 knowledge of natural history ; and in the Reports and 

 Bulletins of these may be sifted out information in every 

 branch of Science. Thus in Crotahis chronicles, our two 

 original rattlesnakes have increased and are still increasing. 

 In 1 83 1, the late Dr. J. E. Gray, of the British Museum 

 Natural History Department, enumerated six genera and 

 eleven species belonging to America. In i860. Dr. Weir 

 Mitchell gave about twenty species as belonging to two 

 genera only, and distinguished by their head scales. 



As this book has no scientific pretensions, and as Its aim 

 is rather to interest a large class of readers than systematically 

 to instruct the few, I will not attempt a list of genera and 



