374 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1893. 



Eattlesnake on pai)ei' in .such a inauiier as to leave no more room for 

 guesses, interpretations, and disputes. 



How desirable sucb a series of pictures is may well be understood 

 by a reference to an extended discussion which was carried on in the 

 well known New York weekly. Forest and Stream, about two years ago. 

 In the issue for May 26, 1892,* the editor called attention to a state- 

 ment by the greatest herpetological authority in the country with regard 

 to the action of the llattlesnake, and which the editor characterizes as 

 "very extraordinary." The statement is to the following effect: 



The species of this genus [Crotahisl are of rather sluggish movements, and are not 

 quiik to bite, unless trodden on. They throw the body into a coil and sound the 

 rattle, giving a sigmoid llexure to the anterior part of the body, on which the head 

 is poised with o])en mouth ready for action. At this time drops of the ]ioisonous 

 saliva fall from the fangs, and by a violent expulsion of air from the lungs are thrown 

 at their enemy. t 



It is evidently the last half of the account which called forth the 

 criticism and led the editor to call upon the readers "to contribute 

 some evidence on the point in question." In the very next number two 

 observers controvert the statement in decided language. Few men are 

 such keen observers or have had such opportunities for observation as 

 Maj. Charles E. Bendire, from whose reply | we quote as follows: 



During a residence of more than twenty -five years in the western portion of the 

 United States, a considerable part of this time having been spent in the field, where 

 Rattlesnakes were and are still common, and during which time I have seen hun- 

 dreds of these reptiles, I have never yet observed one with its mouth open when 

 coiled and ready to strike; neither have I ever seen one attempt to throw poison, 

 even when teased and much provoked. 



The other reader, who signs himself J. M. W., and who evidently has 

 had some experience with Battlers, concludes § a similar protest with 

 the following statement: 



While living in southern Illinois I had a captive nearly 5 feet long — a vicious 

 fighter, who would strike at any object thrust toward him, and often caught his 

 curved fangs in the fine wire netting covering the cage, thus holding his o])en mouth 

 in position for a fraction of a minute. The venom from each fang, a light amber- 

 colored fluid in drops about the size of No. G shot, could be seen on the gauze where 

 it collected when he struck, but there was nothing more, no saliva, no spitting or 

 hissing, nor have I ever seen these manifestations in any of the many individuals 

 that have come under my innnediate notice. Nor have I ever seen a snake's mouth 

 open, with fangs exposed, while waiting a chance to strike. When they strike, the 

 jaws open at an angle of nearly 180 degrees, but not until the final moment. 



In the next issue is a very interesting note by Dr. M. U. Ellzey,|| from 

 which the following sentence is quoted : 



I have seen Rattlers in coil, and seen them strike from coil very often, but never 

 saw one holding its mouth open, witli erect fangs, dripping poisonous saliva. 



* Forest and Stream, xxxviii, p. 493. 



+ Proc. U. S.Nat.Mus., xiv, 1891 (No. 882), p. G87. 



t Forest and Stream, xxxviii, June 2, 1892, p. 518. 



§ Forest and Stream, loc cit. 



II Forest and Stream, xxxviii, June 9, 1892, p. 538. 



