310 SNAKES. 



being warned away, is beguiled to his injury, both in the 

 case of human beings not quick to discriminate sounds, or 

 not having rattlesnakes in their minds, and with animals in 

 their early experience who perhaps hear one for the first time. 



Another question is, ' Does the snake sound its rattles 

 when seeking to capture prey ? ' 



The editor o(th.Q American Naturalist in the volume already 

 quoted, thinks they do not systematically set up a rattling 

 for this purpose ; and as far as observation of snakes in 

 confinement can be of use, this opinion may be confirmed. 

 Probably a captive snake may have learned by experience 

 that, hungry or not, it must wait for its periodical dinner, 

 and that its ' dinner bell ' avails it nothing. Nevertheless, 

 we do not find that the snake uses its rattle upon food being 

 placed in its cage, unless the rat or the guinea-pig come 

 tumbling unexpectedly or unceremoniously upon the snake, 

 when it would sound its rattle in alarm ; but it waits quietly, 

 silently, rather receding than advancing towards the destined 

 prey, and then, after cautious observation, stealthily approach- 

 ing to give the fatal bite. Mr. Arthur Nicols, author of 

 Zoological Notes, etc., has there discussed this point, but 

 dismisses it by declaring he has no faith in ' the dinner-bell 

 theory.' i 



Nor can the rattle be designed to terrify enemies or as 

 a menace, since the sound would invite the attack of those 

 very animals which the snake has most cause to fear, namely 

 goats, hogs, and the large carnivorous birds that devour it. 

 If, besides, it were used as a warning, why have the young 

 ones, which are more in need of protection, no rattle ? 



^ The Country newspaper, August 1878 et seq. 



