86 OPHIDIANS. 
ground. During the rainy season their poison is not consid- 
ered so virulent in its action as during the dry season; but 
the female when pregnant is much more venomous than dur- 
ing any other period. The most expert “Curers” say that 
their bite is not venomous when the atmosphere is surcharged 
with electricity ; and as during the wet season thunder and 
lightning almost invariably accompany every rainstorm, this 
may account for the fact previously stated. 
In this connection, the question naturally suggests itself, 
will not electrical shocks destroy the effects of the poison? 
Experiments to determine this point would be interesting, 
and might develop some new fact about the action of the 
poison. 
The genus Crotalus derives its name from a strong fetid 
smell, like musk, which the reptile emits when provoked: 
this smell is supposed or said to produce a stupefying effect. 
It never bites without giving previous warning by a shake of — 
the rattle, and blows of the axe in felling trees bring one or 
more (that chance to be in the vicinity) to the spot. It se- 
lects a branch or shrub around which to coil the tail; makes a 
peculiar hissing noise with the mouth, and instantly “springs 
its rattle,’ measures its distance, and, with jaws distended to 
their utmost, its forked tongue bobbing in and out, like the 
needle of a sewing machine in motion, and eyes that seem to 
flash out sparks of fire, it sways the head and body from side 
to side with a slow undulatory motion that fascinates the 
sight, and then makes its final spring upon its prey. Its 
movements are comparatively slow, and the swaying motions 
of the head from side to side are, per se, graceful and even 
majestic. 
Any person threatened by an attack of the Rattlesnake, 
however, can turn the reptile aside and avoid the danger by 
simply throwing a hat down in the snake’s path; it will 
