648 ANIMAL LIFE IN THE YOSEMITE 



When excited the rattlesnake vibrates the tip of the tail rapidly, caus- 

 ing the homy rattle to give forth an insistent cicada-like buzz that is 

 usually recognizable at once. If danger threatens, the snake places its 

 body in a series of S-shaped curves, the tip of the tail being held vertically. 

 To "strike," the reptile straightens out suddenly, lunging at its prey 

 or enemy, dropping the loM^er jaw and erecting the hollow teeth or 'fangs' 

 in the roof of the mouth so that they point almost straight forward. (See 

 fig. 65.) At best, the rattler cannot strike more than two-thirds its total 

 length; one-third is probably the average distance struck. Stories of 

 snakes "jumping" at their enemies are gross exaggerations. If the snake 

 hits the object of its attack the two hollow fangs are buried in the flesh, 

 the lower jaw is brought up and the poison is forced into the wounds. 

 Leather tramping boots or puttees are likely to aiford full protection against 

 the rattlesnake, as the animal is not known to strike to a height of much 

 if any over 12 inches above the ground. 



If a person chances to be struck by a rattler certain things should be 

 done promptly, but with as little flurry as possible. 



1. If bitten on the leg or arm, apply a tourniquet above the wound, that is, toward 

 the heart from the bite. This is done in order to stop the flow of blood toward the heart 

 and prevent the poison from getting into the general circulation. A bandana handker- 

 chief with two opposite corners knotted together, slipped over the liml) and twisted tight 

 by means of a stick makes a good tourniquet. 



2. Cut open the site of the punctures with a pocketknife so as to promote a flow of 

 blood and thus tend to wash out the poison. If available, inject potassium permanganate 

 solution into the area immediately surrounding the bite. If the solution cannot be made 

 or injected apply a few crystals of permanganate directly at the place of the bite. 



3. After about half an hour loosen the tourniquet slightly for a fraction of a minute 

 and then tighten it down again. Thereafter, loosening and tightening should be done 

 every fifteen minutes or so. This is to allow the poison remaining in the wound to be 

 absorbed by the system gradually and also to prevent gangi-ene setting in about the bite 

 because of impeded circulation. 



4. The patient should be placed in a comfortable position as soon as possible, and 

 kept quiet. A mild stimulant such as coffee may be administered. Do not give whiskey 

 or brandy. A doctor should be summoned as soon as possible. 



For the rattlesnake the venom serves a twofold purpose, to kill animals 

 which the snake uses for food, and to protect the reptile against its enemies. 

 The food of the rattlesnake consists largely of small rodents of which, 

 locally, chipmunks form a considerable part. These are killed by the 

 snake's poison and then swallowed. A rattler killed on Smith Creek, 6 

 miles east of Coulterville, July 21, 1920, had the remains of a Mariposa 

 Chipmunk in its alimentary canal, only the hind legs and tail remaining 

 "undigested. Another snake found on the Snow Creek zigzags of the trail 

 to Tenaya Lake on September 29, 1915, had an adult Long-eared Chip- 

 munk in its throat, with the tail protruding from the reptile's mouth. In 



