ASCRIBED TO THE RATTLE-SNAKE, &c. 99 



lying under them, is certainly founded in fa£ts : nor is 

 this much to be wondered at, as fimilar phasnomena liave 

 been obferved in other fpecies oflerpents, and even in 

 toads, hawks, and in cats, all of which, to appearance, 

 can under particular circumftances, entice other fmall 

 animals, by mere fteadfaft looks. Here the rattles of 

 this fnake (the rattle-fnake) are of peculiar fervice ; for 

 their hiffing noife caufes the fquirrels, whether impelled 

 by a kind of curiofity, mifunderftanding, or dreadful 

 fear, to follow it, as it would feem, of their own accord. 

 At leaft," continues Mr. Blumcnbach, " 1 know from 

 well-informed eye witnefl'es, that it is one of the common 

 prafcices among the younger favages to hide themfelves 

 in the woods, and by counterfeiting the hiffing of the 

 rattle-fnake to allure and catch the fquirrels."* 



I do not intend to take up much time in examining the 

 foregoing explanation. I fhall offer my objections to it, 

 in as concife a manner as I can. 



Firfl:. The faculty of fafcinating is by no means pecu- 

 liar to the rattle-fnake, but is attributed as extenfively to 

 the black-fnake, and other ferpents, which are not fur- 

 nillied with the crepitaculum, or fet of bells -f-, by which 

 this ferpent is fuppofed to be enabled to ring for its 

 prey, when it wants it. 



Secondly. Some perfons, who have feen the rattle- 

 fnake in the fuppofed adl of charming, affure me that the 

 reptile did not Ihake its rattles, but kept them ftill. It 

 is true, that Mr. Vofmiier's rattle-fnake, already men- 

 tioned, continually ihook its rattles. 



Thirdly. With regard to the pradlice of the young 

 favages, fpoken of by Mr. Blumenbach, I know nothing. 

 I have inquired of Indians, and of perfbns who have re- 



* Har.dbuch der Naturgefchichte, P. 253 Goettingen : 1791. 

 f Serpent "a fonnette is tkie French name for the rattle-fnake. 



fided, 



