48. CROTALUS 



poked with a stick. Many of these were encountered on 

 trails or open stretches of sand, where they had crawled in 

 the hottest part of the day. In such locations are they 

 usually surprised by the camper and tourist in the moun- 

 tains, and often give rise to spasms of fear and palpitations 

 of the heart on the part of the timid people, who expect the 

 snake to coil and spring up at them as if discharged from a 

 catapult! From this year's experience with the Pacific rattle- 

 snake, combined with all our previous acquaintance, we pre- 

 sent the following facts. 



"A rattlesnake, as a rule, is a very timid animal; only 

 when suddenly surprised in a broad open space, does it fail 

 to retreat into the nearest hiding place, such as a brush patch 

 or rock-pile. Then it coils and begins to rattle warningly. 

 Sometimes, when logy from cold or a recent heavy meal, 

 the snake fails to rattle; but if it hasn't energy enough to 

 rattle neither has it energy enough to strike. The senior 

 author has several times put his foot close by and even kicked 

 aside rattlesnakes; in each case there was no warning rattle, 

 and in no case did the snake strike, until perhaps subsequent- 

 ly stirred up on purpose. The point we wish to make here 

 is that when in the mood to strike the snake gives notice of 

 its proximity by rattling vehemently, as soon as it sees (or 

 hears) a person or other large animal approaching. The 

 great majority of rattlers at once endeavor to crawl into 

 some place of safety, but if unable to find a retreat and 

 especially if stoned or jabbed it coils and begins to strike, 

 often blindly, if excessively irritated. 



"Now here is where the popular idea has grotesquely 

 exaggerated the ferocious propensities of the rattlesnake. 

 We have heard people seriously aver that rattlers can in- 

 stantly spring to a distance of many feet, accurately aiming 

 to bite (or "sting") one. We have taken pains to closely 

 watch particularly lively rattlers, at the same time prodding 



