86 OPHIDIAN REPTILES. 



defence, but it is at all times a dangerous neighbour, and it is im- 

 portant to know how to keep them at a distance in countries where 

 they abound. The Pig is an excellent auxiliary in obtaining this 

 result. In the west and south of America, when a field or farm is 

 infested by these ferocious reptiles, it is usual to put a Sow with its 

 j^oung brood there, and the Snakes, it is said, will soon be eaten up. 

 It appears that owing to the fatty matter which envelopes the body 

 of this animal, it is safe from the venemous bite. Besides, it 

 likes the flesh of the Snakes, and eagerly pursues them. Accord- 

 ing to Dr. Franklin, when a Pig sees a Rattlesnake, it smacks its 

 jaws, and its hairs bristle up ; the Snake coils itself up to strike his 

 enem}^ ; the Pig approaches fearlessly, and receives the blow in the 

 fold of fat which hangs upon the side of its jaw. Then he places a 

 foot on the tail of the Snake, and with his teeth he begins to pull 

 the flesh of his enemy to pieces, and eats it with evident enjoyment.* 

 The Pig is not the only animal employed to destroy Rattle- 

 snakes. Dr. Rufz de Lavison, who has long resided in the French 

 Antilles, and who has since been manager of the Jardin d'Acclima- 

 tation, of Paris, has published a highly interesting work, in which 

 he relates the very important services which certain birds, es23ecially 

 the Secretarj^-bird, or Serpent-eater (imported from South Africa), 

 render by destroying Rattlesnakes in the West Indies. We 

 have said that the CrotalidcB are some of the most dangerous of 

 any Snakes ; let us mention' some facts which show the frightful 

 power of their venom. A Crotahis, about three feet in length, 

 killed a Dog in about fifteen minutes, a second in two hours, and a 

 third in about four hours. Four days after he bit another Dog, 

 which only survived thirty seconds ; and another, which only 

 struggled four minutes. Three days afterwards it bit a Frog, 

 which died at the end of two seconds ; and a Chicken, which 

 perished at the end of eight minutes. 



An American, named Drake, arrived at Rouen with three live 

 Rattlesnakes. In spite of the care which he had taken to preserve 

 them from cold, one of them died. He put the cage which con- 



* Dekay, in his " Natural Histoiy of New York, "remarks that it is a popular belief 

 that 'Hogs are particularly destructive to Rattlesnakes ; but neither their bristly hide 

 nor their thick teguments afford thorn perfect immunity from the stroke of this 

 reptile. I was informed by a respectable farmer that he lost three Hogs in one season 

 by the poison either of the Copperhead or Rattlesnake. — Ed. 



