25% On the fafcinating Power 
tain circumftances, emits from its body a ftupefying vapour ; 
and that it is this which produces the effect. Others are 
faid to have remarked that this terrible animal, on fuch oc- 
cafions, makes a noife with the rattle in its tail, a fingnlarity 
_which exclufively belongs to it, and that there is reafon to 
fuppofe that the whole charm is to be afcribed to the terror 
produced by the found of that organ. Againft thefe three 
ways of accounting for this phenomenon Dr. Barton makes 
the following objections: In regard to the firft, the com- 
mon fymptoms after the bite of the rattle-fnake are very dif- 
ferent from thofe which have been remarked in:{mall ani- 
mals fuppofed to have been fafeinated. Befides, this pres. 
tended fafcination can be deftroyed, and the animal faved, if 
the fnake be immediately killed near it ; and in the laft place, 
this fo called fafcinating power is afcribed to many ferpents 
that are not poifonous, as for example the coluber con/tridtor. 
He endeavours to weaken the fecond mode of explanation 
by remarking, that many obfervers have feen nothing of that 
mephitic evaporation of the rattle-fnake; that fmall birds, 
when enclofed in a box, with the animal, have remained 
lively and well; and that the rattle-fnake often lies whole 
days under bufhes and trees, while thrufhes and fly-catchers 
neftle in them without any danger*. 
As Dr. Barton’s argument againft the third manner of 
accounting for this property is particularly and folely di- 
rected againft a paffage in my Manual of Natural Hiftory, T 
fhall firft quote the paffage itfelf, before I offer any remarks 
on his objections. ' 
<¢ That f{quirrels, fmall birds, &c. fall down fpontaneoufly 
from trees into the mouth of the rattle-fnake, lying below 
them, is an undifputed fact, and is the lefs furprifing, as the 
like phenomena have been remarked in regard to other 
{nakes, and alfo toads, hawks, and cats; all of which, in 
* Tr is a pity that Dr. Barton did not compare with his obfervations 
Kaim’s account in the Swedith Tranfaétions for 1752, and the valuable 
cffay of Michailis on this fubie& in the Gottingen Magazin for January 
ot 
a certain 
