THE RATTI.E-SXAKE. 63 



most singular mauner ; sometimes drawing out his whole length, then 

 doubling himself he appeared to be forcing the muscles of his body to- 

 wards the neck and head with a vermicular motion, as if to give those 

 parts more power. He had nearly swallowed his meal, when the cage 

 was slightly moved. Instantly he began to twist himself about in so 

 complicated a manner, that we scarcely knew what was coming next, 

 wlien, with a sudden olTort, he ejected the squirrel, tlirowing it far from 

 him. We now left him to himself; and, on returning in about an hour, 

 found that he had made the work sure this time, and lay coiled up, so- 

 berly enjoying his repast with perfect gusto. 



In about two weeks, the anxiety of some friend '^o see the snake 

 eat," induced us to tempt his appetite again, though with little hope of 

 success. This time a squirrel, larger and more lively than the other, 

 was put into the cage ; but the snake took no notice of it. Nay, we 

 pushed them together and over each other, but, with the exception of 

 .some slight manifestations of dislike of such treatment, he would not 

 touch it. One thing of interest occurred during this experiment : The 

 little crcatur'e had crouched in one corner, with its head buried behind 

 a tuft of hay, near the snake, which lay coiled up, rattling with might 

 and main. By means of a wire we pressed down the hay, and, as soon 

 as the eye of the squirrel became visible, the snake stopped his rattles 

 and reared his head. Then, with that slow, steady movement, which 

 always created the feeling that a life was to be lost the next instant, he 

 approached it; but had no sooner touched the head than he drew back 

 suddenly, and co.mmenced his music over again. The sfj/iirrel was left 

 in the cage all night, and next morning was found dead, whether from 

 being bitten or from some bruises it had received in being captured, we 

 could not say. 



In the course of the Fall, at the suggestion of a scientific fiiend, it 

 was determined to try the etl'ect of Ash-leaves upon him. If we mis- 

 take not, Heckwelder relates the success of such experiments among the 

 Indians; but although we showered leaves and branches, (we used the 

 white-ash,) quite abundantly upon liim, the spell would not work. One 

 of the party indeed thought the rattles were not quite so loud, but we 

 suppose, the same eflect would have followed had he been burled in 

 any other kind of leaves. Music, too, was tried, but this time Shaks- 

 peare proved untrue; and the savage beast was not charmed. A few 

 weeks after, a small land-tortoise was thrown into the cage at evening, 

 and next morning was nowhere to be seen. As there was no getting 

 out. we easilv concluded what liad become of it. 



An account of our last alteuqit at feeiHng him may prove interesting 



