300 



SNAKES. 



as is observable, is old and very much worn ; 

 so much so, indeed, that one has to handle it with 

 care. It is, however, pulled apart intentionally to 

 show that the links vary in form from those of 

 the tapering specimen. Any rattle can thus be 

 separated without much effort, as, owing to 

 the elasticity of the substance, not much re- 



Small divided 



sistance presents itself The links are just ''''"•^• 

 loose enough to produce that sibilant effect, like the rust- 

 ling of dry leaves, or of ripe beans in a pod ; or still more, 

 like the seed vessel of our own native plant the 

 Yellow Rattle, RJiinanthiis Crista galli, and the 

 American ' Rattle-Box,' Crotalaria sagittalis. 



Yet just so securely fitting it is as to permit 

 of the continual vibration without loss of links. 



What we see^ therefore, is only the base or 

 lower lobe of each joint, the rest running up 

 into the next two or even three bases, as may 

 be traced in the section here given. 



In reading about the construction of a rattle, 

 some perplexity may occur from the various 

 adverbs before, behind, first, last, previous link? 

 etc., some referring to age, others to place, section of rattle. 

 Descriptions of the rattle met with in popular physiological 

 works prove the above perplexities, and verify w^hat 

 is so often demonstrated, viz. the ' inability of unscientific 

 persons to read scientific matter correctly.' The ' last ' link 

 means the one last grown, not the end one of the tail ; 

 'pushing the preceding one forzvard' is not towards the 

 Jiead of the reptile, but literally oittivard and backward 



