295 



taken. This observation confirms Mr. Quelch's opinion vide 

 Timehri (Vol. V., Part I., Juno 1891). During movement the 

 snake always carefully holds his rattle up away from the floor 

 of his bqx. 



2nd September, 1892. F. W. Urich. 



Some time having elapsed since the above notes were read at 

 the Club our Secretaiy has asked me to supplement it with a few of 

 my observations on this interesting reptile. Prior to his being con- 

 fided to Mr. Ui'ich's care, and about two days after I i-eceived him 

 from Mr. Scott, I gave him a mouse which he killed instmtcr. 

 I was absent for three or four hours and when I returned I found 

 he had not swallowed the mouse and that a large number of 

 ants (Cam])07iotus ntriceps, Smith) the species referred to by Mr. 

 Hart as having killed a tree boa at the Gardens some time ago, 

 had got into the cage, and in addition to attacking the dead 

 mouse, had commenced operations on the living rattle snake. It 

 was a remarkable sight to see this deadly reiotile which could kill 

 a well-nourished healthy man in about four or five hours, being 

 worried to death by a few scores of tiny ants. The operation of 

 taking him out of his perilous position Avas a delicate one, as it 

 had to be performed on a dark, windy night, in an open yard, 

 with a flickering light, which might at any instant be blown out, but 

 the snake was considerate enough to know I meant him 

 no harm, and like the sensible beast he alwaj-s is, crawled 

 out of one box into another in the quietest manner possible. 

 My experience of rattlesnakes is confined to this specimen, 

 but if they are all of as sweet a temper as he, I consider 

 them most affable creatures and not at all vicious. Subsequent to 

 the reading of Mr. Urich's paper I saw this snake kill and devour 

 a three-quarter grown rat which had half murdered two strong 

 and healthy young Einc^'ates cenchris which habitually live on 

 these rodents, but for some reason or other were just then off 

 their " feed." On the 13th April, 1893, Mr. Urich sent "Rattles" 

 to me, and the following are some of the notes I have made upon 

 him up to the present time. He has continued to grow and has 

 cast his coat on several occasions, but at intervals of six weeks 

 which is now increasing to two months and the changes will 

 be even more rare wuth age. With regard to his poison the 

 following instances will show the celerity with which it works : — 

 April 14. — A small rat was killed in 29 minutes. 

 April 1.5. — A quarter-grown rat in 5 minutes. 

 July 25. — A young rat in 4^ minutes, 

 Aug. 4. — An average sized rat bitten twice, but though " rather 



