in the Counties of New-Haven and Litchfield. 229 
Rattle Snakes—anecdote of one. 
1 was informed by my guide that rattle snakes had for- 
merly been very numerous upon this hill, and were still 
found there in considerable numbers. He accorded with 
the general impression as to their torpidity, and the 
slowness ‘of their motions, but stated the following fact, as 
of his own knowledge. One of his neighbors, a young 
man, meeting with a large and vigorous snake, of this spe- 
cies, instead of despatching him at once with his long cart- 
whip, which he could easily have done without the slightest 
danger, (as it is well known that they are killed very easily) 
amused himself by provoking him, by gently playing his 
whip around his body. The irritated reptile made repeat- 
ed and vigorous leaps towards the young man, coming near- 
er to him at every effort, and being teazed more and more 
_by-the whip, at last threw himself into the air with such en- 
ergy, that when he descended, he seemed scarcely to touch 
the ground,—but instantly rebounding, executed a succes- 
sion of leaps, so rapid, and so great, that there was not the 
slightest intermission, and he appeared to fly. The young 
man betook himself to a rapid flight, but his dreadful pur- 
suer gained rapidly upon him, till approaching a fence he 
perceived that he could not pass it before the fangs of the 
snake would be hooked in his flesh ; as his only resource, 
he turned, and by a fortunate throw of his lash, by which 
€ wound it completely around the serpent’s body, he ar- 
rested his progress, and killed him. 
Few animals are furnished with more dreadful means of 
destruction. I had a living one nearly two months in my 
possession, and every day watched his manners. Birds, 
and most small animals, when put into his cage, he immedi- 
ately killed, but did not eat them ; a toad he permitted to 
remain with him for weeks unmolested, and even seemed 
attached to him, as he would permit him to leap upon his 
body, and even to sit upon his head. He took nothing except 
water, which he drank in large quantities, but rejected eve- 
ry thing else, although tempted with very many things 5 he 
ed emaciated, and at the approach of cold weather died. 
t he was six weeks in full vigour. When he opened his 
mouth his fangs were not visible, unless he was provoked ; 
fae | ee No, s. 0 
