ASCRIBED TO THE RATTLE-SNAKE, S:c. 105 



towards the ferpent, then reth-e, and return again, I will 

 not deny. But that it is irrefiftably drawn into the jaws 

 of the ferpent, I do deny: becaufe it is very frequently 

 ken to drive the ferpent from its hold ; becaufe the bird 

 or fquirrel often returns, in a few minutes, to their ha- 

 bitations. Sometimes the bird or fquirrel, in attempting 

 to drive away the fnake, approach too near to then" ene- 

 my, and are bitten, or immediately devoured. But, 

 from what will afterwards be faid, it will appear that 

 thefe inftances are not fo common as is generally ima- 

 gined. 



My inquiries concerning the feafon of the year, at 

 which any particular fpecies of birds has been i'een under 

 the fafcinating power of a ferpent, afforded me ftill more 

 fatisfa£tion. In almoft eveiy inftance, I found that the 

 fuppofed fafcinating faculty of the ferpent was exerted 

 upon the birds at the particular leafon of their laying their 

 eggs, of their hatching, or of their rearing their young, 

 ftill tender, and defencelefs. I now began to fufpedt, 

 that the cries and fears of birds fuppofed to be fafcinated 

 originated in an endeavour to protett their neft or young. 

 My inquiries have convinced me that this is the cafe. 



1 have already obferved, that the rattle-fnake does not 

 climb up trees. But the black-fnake and fome other fpe- 

 cies of the genus coluber do. When impelled by hun- 

 ger, and incapable of fatisfying it by the capture of ani- 

 mals on the ground, they begin to glide up trees or 

 bulhes, upon which a bird has its neft. The bird is rot 

 ignorant of the ferpent's obje£t. She leaves her neft, 

 whether it contains eggs or young ones, and endeavours 

 to oppofe the reptile's progrei's. In doing this, ftie is 

 adluated by the ftrength of her inftindive attachment to 

 her eggs, or of affedion to her young. Her cry is me- 

 lancholy, her motions are tremulous. She expofes her- 

 felf to the moft imminent danger. Sometimes, llie ap- 

 proaches 



