86 Of the FASCINATING FACULTY 



not the moft ftriking feature that is difplayed in the Tra- 

 vels of Kalm, he acquits himfelf, for fome time, very 

 iudicioufiy ; but fpoils all he has faid, by concluding, 

 that the bird or fquirrel " are only enchanted., whilfl: the 

 fnake has its eyes fixed on them*." He allows that 

 " this looks odd and unaccountable, though," fays he, 

 *' many of the worthieft and moft reputable people have 

 related it, and though it is fo univerfally believed here," 

 that is in New- Jerfey, &c. " that to doubt it would be to 

 expofe one's felf to general laughter. -f-" 



Several Ameiican writers have adopted the notion, 

 that fnakes are endued with a fafcinating faculty. Fear- 

 ful that their authority may extend the empire of this 

 error, I have been the more anxious to offer my fenti- 

 ments on the fubjeil to the fociety J. 



It has given me pleafure to find, that the enchanting 

 faculty of the rattle-fnake is doubted by fome very re- 

 fpeftable European naturalifts. " It is difficult," fays 

 my excellent friend Mr. Pennant, " to fpeak of its faf- 

 cinating powers : authors § of credit defcribe the cfFedls. 

 Birds have been feen to drop into its mouth, fquirrels 



* Travels into North- America, &c. vol. ii. p. 210. 



t Ibid. 



% Speaking of the rattle-fnake, my worthy friend Mr. William Bartram 

 fays : " They are fuppofed to have the power of fafcination in an eminent 

 degree, fo as to intlirall their prey. It is generally believed that they 

 charm birds, rabbits, fquirrels, and other animals, and by fteadfaftly looking 

 at them, poffefs them with infatuation ; be the caufe wlir.t it may, the mifera- 

 ble creatures undoubtedly ftrive by every podible means to efcape, but alas ! 

 their endeavours are in vain, they at laft lofe the power of refiftance, and 

 flutter or move flowly, but reludlantly towards llie yawning jaws of their 

 devourers, and creep into their mouths, or lay down and fufter themfelves 

 to be taken and fwallowed." Travels through North and South Carolina, 

 Georgia, Eaft and Weft Florida, &c. p. 267. Philadelphia: 179 1. 



§ " Lawfon— Catefby — Ph. Tr. abridg. ix. ^6, &c. vii. 410. — Brickel's 

 Hift. Carolina, 144. — Beverley Virginia, 260. — Golden, i. 12." Dr. 

 Brickel is an author of no credit. His Hiftory of North-Carolinti, here quot- 

 ed, is one of the moft daring and fcandalous inftances of plagiarifm I am 

 acquainted with. 



defcend 



