of the Rattle-fnake. 259% 
certain circumftances, as appears, have the power of drawing 
towards them fmall animals, merely by fixing their eyes 
ftedfaftly on them. In regard to the rattle-fnake, this effect 
is produced by the rattle in its tail, the hiffing noife of which 
makes fquirrels, &c. whether through curiofity, miftake, or. 
terror, feem to approach the animal as it were fpontane- 
oufly. At any rate, I know from the information of intel- 
ligent eye-witneffes, that it is a common ftratagem of the 
young favages in America to conceal themfelves in the 
buthes, where they imitate the hiffing noife of the rattle- 
fnake, and by thefe means attract {quirrels, which they are 
then enabled to catch.” 
Dr. Barton’s objections to this paffage are as follows: 
« y. This fafcinating power is by no means peculiar, to the 
rattle-{nake.”” This is literally what I faid myfelf, with the 
addition, that the effect is produced by the rattle. This lazy 
animal, when lying on the ground, might certainly employ 
that fingular organ for enticing animals, as well as the ce- 
raftes employs its horns for the fame purpofe, at leaft ac- 
cording to common report. 
2. The author fays he has been affured by fome perfons 
that “ the rattle-fnake, during the time of its fuppofed fafei- 
nation, does not employ its rattle.” It is very probable 
that the cafe here may be altered by circumftances. Dr. 
Barton, however, was told the contrary by other perfons. 
A Mohigan Indian informed him that the rattle-fnake 
fafcinates {quirrels and birds by means of its rattle; and by 
its noife can bring down animals from trees. An inter= 
preter, who enabled him to earry on a converfation with a 
Choktaw Indian, told him the fame thing; and the experi- 
ments of M. Vofmaer are well known. 
3. In regard to the ftratagem of the favages, Dr. Bar- 
ton knows nothing of it; and others, of whom he made 
enquiry, were equally ignorant on the fubjeé&t. He is there- 
fore inclined to believe that I have been impofed on, or that 
this ftory perhaps has taken its rife from the following cir. 
cumftance : 
