of the Rattle-fuake. 255 
fourth method ; the fum of which is, that thofe birds which 
under certain circumftances, as has been afferted, flutter 
"into thé mouth of the animal, are in general thofe which 
neftle on the ground, in bufhes, or on low trees, and which 
having eggs or young in their nefis, expofe their lives 
through love for their brood on the approach of this 
dangerous enemy. 
With this method of explaining the phenomenon I have 
been acquainted fince 1785, from the before-mentioned Effay 
of Michazlis, who, among many ways of folving the problem, 
gives the following : ' 
‘* Others believe that it is owing merely to the care of 
the old ones for their young, which throw themfelves 
between the latter and their enemies, and by thefe means 
become a prey to them. One of my friends, Mr. David 
Colden, at Pufhing, an amateur of natural hiftory, and fon 
of Governor Colden,- whofe fervice to fcience is fo well 
known, aflured me that he had feveral times feen birds 
fafcinated by fnakes, but always found the neft of the bird 
either with eggs or young ones in the neighbourhood, 
which made the fpectators give up the idea of fafcination. 
But, Mr. Michaélis adds, I know fome inflances where no 
neft could be in the neighbourhood, and where, rhe 
the fnake was at firft at a great diftance from the bird, 
neverthelefs fell towards it.” 
_ I would however add another mode of explanation from 
Dr. Barton’s work itfelf, where he affures us that the refult 
of his enquiries, whether the rattle-fnake creeps up trees or 
not, induces him to believe the latter to be the cafe. He 
had an opportunity of feeing many of them, but he always 
obferved them on the ground. They never move, like the- 
moft part of the other ferpents, in a fpiral manner, but 
firaight on; and this is the reafon why they cannot afcend 
trees. The rattle-{nake is alfo one of the lazieft of all the 
ferpent tribe; under thefe circumftances it feems very 
natural that fuch a lazy animal fhould be endowed with the 
9 fafcinating 
