Miscellanies. , 177 



Haygood and Mr. Lyles examined the bones of the head of one, 

 after they became exposed, from decay of the flesh. There were five 

 fangs on each side of the jaw, above and below, making twenty teeth, 

 which were more than an inch in length and nearly of the same size. 

 When the jaws of the reptile are closed, the fangfe, (as is the fact gen- 

 erally with venomous snakes,) fold like the claws of the feline animals. 

 Dreadful as this rattlesnake may appear, there is no instance known 

 here of any human being having been bitten by one of this species. 

 Being usually found fat, and very large for the length, they are con- 

 equently sluggish and indisposed to attack, although, when aroused, 

 their aspect is terrible. 



The very broad head of this serpent, often four inches wide and 

 the great number of large and long teeth make him altogether the 

 most formidable snake in appearance, and probably he is the most 

 fatal in North America. Yours respectfully, 



Jacob Peck. 



January, 1833. 



This snake is described by Linnaeus, and called by him Crotalvs 

 durissus. Descriptions of it may also be found in Rees's Cyclopae- 

 dia, art. Crotalvs ; — Encyc. Amer. art. Rattlesnake; — Cuvier's An. 

 King. (Am. ed.) vol. ii, p. 67, and Shaw's Zoology, vol. iii, pt. 2, 

 p. 333. The last named account is accompanied by a drawing. 



Com. 



8. Delaware Academy of Natural Sciences, and the Address of 

 Dr. Henry Gibbons, at Wilmington. — We are happy to observe the 

 proofs of a high regard to mental culture, which this discourse ex- 

 hibits ; and we learn with pleasure that the Wilmington Academy 

 exhibits, in its hall, a valuable collection in natural history, and espe- 

 cially in mineralogy. These collections are stated to be increasing, 

 and that "a growing disposition, favorable to the cultivation of sci- 

 ence, is manifested, more especially by the younger portion of the 

 citizens of Wilmington." The disquisition of Dr. Gibbons is replete 

 with interesting facts, relating to science, literature and morals ; it 

 finds its way equally to the head and the heart, leaving them both 

 under the happiest influences. We have rarely read a more inter- 

 esting discourse, pronounced on such an occasion. 



9. Proposal for establishing a seminary for education in Liberia. 

 A benevolent correspondent has addressed to the Editor a letter upon 



Vol. XXlV._No. 1. 23 



