The Rattlesnakes 



weeks — in the spring — during the mating season, they linger on 

 the main ledge in large numbers, but finally scatter to the limber 

 for the warm months. 



These places are the so-called "rattlesnake dens." During 

 the summer but occasional snakes are observed in the vicinity. 

 The accompanying photographs indicate the character of a "den. " 

 (lllus. Rock Cabin Ledge.) Ihe snakes hibernate in the 

 fissures leading back from the cavern, which faces the south 

 while upon the top of the ledge, the writer has obtained a number 

 of specimens each summer. 



Though after the spring the snakes leave the hibernating 

 ledge — generally so situated as to be exposed to the sun for the 

 greater part of the day — they display a marked persistency in 

 following the ledge into the timber where they frequent out- 

 croppings of the same vein of rock, or adjacent and smaller 

 ledges that are surrounded by ground where the hunting is 

 good. These veins of rock traversing the mountains of New 

 York, Pennsylvania and many of the Eastern States are generally 

 associated with the presence of rattlesnakes which are but rarely 

 found any distance from them. This may be explained by the 

 existence of many fissures and hiding places on the ledges. From 

 the presence of numerous shed skins it appears that various 

 snakes have favourite places of concealment, and from these they 

 do not wander far during the course of the summer. 



Of the various rattlesnakes inhabiting the United States, 

 this is the most mild-tempered species. It becomes so docile 

 in captivity that the majority of specimens may be actually 

 handled with the same freedom as a harmless snake without 

 showing signs of irritation — a trait particularly characteristic 

 of male specimens. While this has frequently been done by 

 reckless persons, the writer begs to explain that he is not ad- 

 vising the student to try the dangerous experiment. The fact 

 should always be in mind, in studying poisonous snakes, that no 

 matter how gentle may be the demeanour of the serpent, it is 

 provided with fangs, and can produce a deadly wound in lightning- 

 like fashion, and moreover, though a venomous snake be ex- 

 tremely good-natured, there lurks within its brain a nervous and 

 instinctive tendency to instantly employ the fangs if the move- 

 ments of a nearby object appear suspicious or threaten danger. 

 And it takes but little to provoke a poisonous snake. A quick 



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