THE RATTLE. 311 



Darwin, in the sixth edition of his Origin of Species, 18/ 2, 

 writes as follows, p. 162 : — 



' It is admitted that the rattlesnake has a poison-fang for 

 its own defence and for the destruction of its prey ; but 

 some authors suppose that at the same time it is furnished 

 with a rattle for its own injury, namely to warn its prey. 

 I would almost as soon believe that the cat curls the end 

 of its tail when preparing to spring in order to warn the 

 doomed mouse. It is a much more probable view that the 

 rattlesnake uses its rattle, the cobra expands its frill, and 

 the puff-adder swells whilst hissing so loudly and harshly, 

 in order to alarm the many birds and beasts which are 

 known to attack even the most venomous species. Snakes 

 act on the same principle which makes a hen ruffle her 

 feathers and expand her wings when a dog approaches her 

 chickens.' This profound thinker, then, is one of those 

 who include the rattle among ' the many ways by which 

 animals endeavour to frighten away their enemies.' 



We may reasonably conclude that the Crotabis, in common 

 with other snakes, also with dogs and cats, expresses a 

 variety of feelings with its sounding tail, fear being the 

 most predominant one. The Indians recognise its utility 

 as a warning by gratefully abstaining from killing one that 

 rattles. They superstltiously regard it as protective to 

 themselves if not to the snake, and they in turn carefully 

 protect the reptile. Backwoodsmen display little or no fear 

 when they hear the Crotahcs, and though they do not spare 

 it, regard it with less bitter animosity than they display 

 towards its cousin the Copper-head ; because, as a facetious 

 writer has testified of it, ' it never bites without provocation, 



