LETTERS PROM PROF. KIRTLAND. 131 



and absence of fangs and glands for the secretion of poison 

 in its mouth, both popular opinion and Indian tradition 

 assign to it the most deadly powers. 



The Indians designate it by a term in their language 

 meaning The Blood Snahe^ and considered its bite as 

 suddenly fatal, unless the wounded limb was instantly 

 amputated. From its anatomy and habits, I infer that 

 very few of the aborigines ever suffered much from resort- 

 ing to this remedy. So strongly impressed on the minds 

 of the public are such fabulous notions, that the better 

 dictates of knowledge and science are generally disre- 

 garded. The handling of this snake, by me, excited almost 

 as much emotion among the good people of this vicinity, 

 as did the attack of the venomous reptile on the Man of 

 Tarsus of old. 



Dr. Wilcox, who has been intimately acquainted with 

 this section of country for more than twenty years, informs 

 me that he has met with this species of snake only in four 

 instances — one of which was at Toledo, Ohio. 



J. P. KiRTLAND. 



LETTER FROM PROF. KIRTLAND. 



Extract of a Letter read before the Cleveland Academy of Science, dated 



Galena, Laporte County, Ind., 



August 28, 1857. 



I am now enjoying myself in a region of country which 

 is in a transition state between a wilderness and high 

 cultivation. It still abounds in objects highly interesting 

 to the naturalist. Yesterday, while out on a botanical 

 excursion, a fine deer arose just before me, and escaped 

 away into the forest. The mill ponds in the vicinity are 



