Habit of Climbing of the Rattle-snake. 221 



Dimensions — Total length 3 inches 7 tenths; tail 1.7; length of 

 ear 0.5 breadth of ear 0.4 ; length of leg 1.7 ; spread of wings 

 10.7. inhabit Pennsylvania and New York, and probably the 

 southern states— Cab. of Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. 



HABIT OP CLIMBING OF THE RATTLE-SNAKE. 



Extract of a letter, from Col. Abert, of the U. S. Topographical Engineers, to 

 Dr. Harlan, of Philadelphia. 



T HAVE, within a few days, had the pleasure of conversing with 

 your friend, the distinguished ornithologist, Mr. John James Au- 

 dubon, a gentleman whose fame and enterprise, seem at present 

 to occupy the anxious solicitude of both Europe and America ; 

 each of which countries appears to rival the other, by distinguish- 

 ing him with academic honours. And if our country cannot claim 

 the merit of having taken the lead in this honourable struggle, it 

 can at least claim that of hailing Mr. Audubon as a citizen, and 

 a native, and of furnishing him with those objects which appear 

 so early to have attracted his attention and study ; and upon which 

 his glowing and unrivalled pencil has bestowed so enduring a life. 



His enthusiasm in the pursuit of his favourite study, has led 

 him to plan a new expedition into the hitherto unexplored 

 regions of our continent ; and his object in visiting our city, was 

 to obtain letters of hospitality and protection, to all our frontier 

 establishments. It gives me great pleasure to say, that he has 

 met with the most kind and patronising reception ; and that all 

 the high functionaries of our government, animated by that 

 zeal in favour of the sciences which distinguishes intelligent 

 minds, have readily, and with pleasure, afforded to him the 

 letters and papers of protection which he required. 



He gratified us with a view of the truly splendid illustrations 

 of American birds, which compose his first volume of plates, and 

 left us yesterday morning, in order to prosecute his hazardous and 

 interesting enterprise. 



His plan is first to examine the peninsula of Florida ; then the 

 regions west of the Mississippi, Mexico, and, if possible, to pene- 

 trate into California. He also contemplates crossing the Rocky 

 mountains, and pursuing the Columbia river to its mouth, and 



