874 REPORT f)F NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1893. 



Rattlesiiake on paper in siicli a inaiiiier as to leave no more room for 

 guesses, iiiter|)retatioiis, and (lis])ntes. 



How desirable sueli a series of pictures is may well be understood 

 by a reference to an extended discussicm which was carried on iu the 

 well knowu New York weekly, Forest and Stream, about two years ago. 

 In the issue for May 20, 1892,* the editor called attention to a state- 

 ment by the greatest herpetological authority in the country with regard 

 to the acticm of the Hattlesnake, and which the editor characterizes as 

 *'very extraordinaiy." The statement is to the following effect: 



The species of this jrcuus [Crotaliis] are of rather sluggish movements, and are not 

 quick to bite, unh'ss trodden ou. They throw the body into a coil aud sound the 

 rattle, giving a sigmoid tlexure to the anterior part of the body, on which the head 

 is ]ioised with o])en mOuth ready for action. At this time drops of the poisonous 

 saliva fall from the fangs, and by a violent expulsion ol' air from the lungs are thrown 

 at tlieir enemy. t 



It is evidently the last half of the account which called forth the 

 criticism and led the editor to call upon the readers "to contribute 

 some evidence on the point in question." In tlie very next number two 

 observers controvert the statement in decided language. Few men are 

 such keen observers or have had such opi)ortunities for observation as 

 Maj. Charles E. Hendire, from whose reply | we (ptote as follows: 



Duiing,' a residence of more than twenty-five years in the western portion of the 

 United States, a considerable part of this time having l)een spent in the field, where 

 Rattlesnakes were and are still common, and during which time I have seen hun- 

 dreds of these rei)tiles, I have never yet observed one with its mouth open wlien 

 coiled and ready to strike; neither have I ever seen one attempt to throw poison, 

 even when teased and much provoked. 



The other reader, who signs himself J. M, W., aud who evidently has 

 had some experience with Kattlers, concludes § a similar protest with 

 the following statement: 



While living in southern Illinois I had a captive nearly .5 feet long — a vicious 

 fighter, who would strike at iiny object thrust toward him, and often caught his 

 curved fangs iu the fine Avire netting covering the cage, thus holding his o]ien mouth 

 in position for a fraction of a minute. The venom from each fang, a light amber- 

 colored fluid iu drops about the size of No. 6 shot, could be seen on the gauze where 

 it collected when he struck, but there was nothing more, no saliva, no spitting or 

 hissing, nor have lever seen these manifestations in any of the many individuals 

 that have come under my immediate notice. Nor have I ever seen a snake's month 

 open, witli fangs exposed, while waiting a chance to strike. When they strike, the 

 jaws open at an angle of nearly 180 degrees, but not until the iinal moment. 



In the next issue is a very interesting note by Dr. M. G. Ellzey,|| from 

 which the following sentence is quoted : 



I have seen Rattlers in coil, aud seen them strike from coil very often, but never 

 saw one holding its mouth open, with erect fangs, dripping poisonous saliva. 



' Forest and Stream, xxxviii, ]>. 49.3. 



t Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., xiv, 181)1 (No. 882), p. ()87. 



t Forest and Stream, xxxviii, June 2. 1892, j). 518. 



^ Forest aud Stream, loc cit. 



II Forest aud Stream, xxxviii, .June 9, 1892, p. 538. 



