ASCRIBED TO THE RATTLE-SNAKE, Sec. y^ 



be mentioned, ferioufly relate fome wonderful ftory, as 

 a convincing proof of the doclrlne. Children feeni 

 taught to believe it. I think, it is fomctimes one of the 

 earlieft prejudices imprinied on their tender minds. It is 

 a prejudice which often increafes with their years ; and 

 even in that happy period of life when the mind is mofi" 

 firm, and the leaft propenfe to the belief of extraordinary 

 things, the ways of which we are not capable of fcanning, 

 I have known this prejudice fo deeply and fo powerfully 

 rooted, as to mock the light and furenefs of fads, and 

 all the ftrength of reaioning. 



It is not my intention, in this memoir, to give an 

 analyfis, or complete view, of every thing that has been 

 written on the fubjedl. Nor is it my intention to ex- 

 amine the many flories, related by authors, in fupport 

 of the fafcinating faculty of ferpents. For the firfl: talk, 

 I have not leifure ; and, as to the fecond, J fliould think 

 my time ill employed in pointincr out the grofs abfurdities 

 which feem to conftitute a neceffary part of many of 

 thofe ftories. I think it proper, however, to obferve, 

 that 1 have anxioufly fought for, and have patiently pe- 

 rufed, the volumes of tales published in favour of the 

 dodtrine which 1 mean to controvert. 



I aim at giving a general, though corredf, view of 

 the queftion, uninfluenced by the bold alTertions of ig- 

 norance, or by the plaufible conjectures of fcience. In 

 the inveftigation of the queftion, I have fought for fadls : 

 thefe have been my guides. I have ftudioufly endea- 

 voured to follow where they feemed to lead. Perhaps, 

 they have led me aftray. 



The manner in which the fuppofed fafcinating power 

 of ferpents is exerted has often been related, by different 

 writers. 1 fhall endeavour to convey fome idea of the 

 bufinefs, in as few words as I can. 



The 



