166 Miscellaneous Facts and Obseriiations. 



It will be evident to any one, who has perused, 

 with attention, my two publications* on the supposed 

 fascinating faculty of the Rattle-Snake, -and other 

 American serpents, that Mr. Fabricius has by no 

 means fully comprehended my peculiar theory. I have 

 not adopted the hypothesis of the very respectable 

 Kalm, with whose name mine is mentioned, by the 

 Danish Professor. On the contrary, I have endea- 

 voured to show, and I flatter myself that I have very 

 satisfactorily shown, that there is no solid foundation 

 for the vulgar, and very generally-received opinion, 

 that serpents are endued with the faculty of fascinat- 

 ing, or charming, other animals. 



Editor. 



14. The following very curious tradition of some 

 of our Indians, relative to serpents, is wortliy of pub- 

 lication in this place. A part of the tradition has 

 already been published in my Supplement to a Me- 

 moir concerning the Fascinating Faculty "which has been 

 ascribed to the Rattle-Snake^ aiid other American Ser- 

 pents. 



* Having questioned Indians, a number of times, 

 with respect to snakes having the power of charming, 



' A Memoir concerning the Fasciniiling Faculty which has 

 lieen ascribed to the Raltle-Snake, and other American Serpents. 

 Philadelphia: 1796 Supplement to a Memoir, &c. Phila- 

 delphia: litOO. 



