CHAPTER I. 



OBSERVATIONS ON THE HABITS OF THE CROTALUS WHEN IN 



CAPTIVITY. 



During a large part of two years, the period which this research has occupied, 

 I was a portion of each day in the room where the reptiles were kept, and conse- 

 quently observed with care such of their habits as could be studied while they 

 were in confinement. In regard to these I have a few observations to make, 

 before considering their physiology and toxicology. 



It is by no means my intention to give a full account of the habits of the 

 Crotalus, since this would involve a great deal of detail which is to be found else- 

 where, and which would be foreign to the general purpose of this essay. 



The Rattlesnake of our Northern States, when at liberty, sometimes lives in 

 the company of his fellows, but more frequently alone. I have had, in a single 

 box, from ten to thirty-five snakes, and have never observed the slightest signs of 

 hostility towards one another. Even when several snakes were suddenly dropped 

 upon their fellows, no attempt was made to annoy the new-comers, while the sudden 

 intrusion of a pigeon or a rabbit was met with ready resentment, whenever the 

 snakes were fresh and in vigorous health. 



The habits of Rattlesnakes, when in confinement, are singularly inactive. Even 

 in warm weather, when they are least sluggish, they will lie for days together in a 

 knotted mass, occasionally changing their position, and then relapsing into perfect 

 rest. The contrast between this ordinary state of repose, or sluggish movement, 

 and the perilous rapidity of their motion when striking, is most dangerously decep- 

 tive. In contrast also with their slow locomotion is the marvellously rapid action 

 of their rattles, which, when annoyed or molested, they will sometimes continue 

 to agitate for hours at a time. 



It is the general experience of those who have kept rattlesnakes, that they 

 seldom eat in captivity. I have known a snake to exist for a year without food, 

 and although I have made every eflfort to tempt my own snakes, I have never 

 seen any one of them disposed to avail itself of food, when placed within its 

 reach. Dumeril states that this is the usual experience in the Garden of Plants, 

 but that at the end of six or eight months they commonly accept food. He also 

 adds that the very young pigeon is the food they are most inclined to eat. 



After tempting the snakes with this, as well as with birds, mice, rabbits, etc., 

 and finding the food as often untouched, I finally gave up the attempt, and con- 

 tented myself with feeding, by force, such of them as seemed feeble and badly 

 nourished. For this purpose, I used milk and insects, which I placed in their 

 throats, while they were properly pinioned. To effect this, the snake was secured, 

 and the lower jaw held in the grasp of a pair of forceps, while a funnel, with a 



