Habit of Climbing of the Raille-snake. 223 



but his Florida hunters, who are as familiar with the appearance 

 of the rattle-snake, as we are with that of the chicken, told him, 

 that it was a rattle-snake. 



2d. General Jessup, the Quarter-Master General of our army, 

 assured me in conversation a day or two since, that he had seen 

 the rattle-snake upon bushes, and particularly stated one case, in 

 which he had seen a snake of that kind up a papaw* tree. He 

 also added, that in one of his excursions in the woods of the west, 

 he had actually witnessed a scene similar to that represented by 

 Mr. Audubon, of birds defending their nests against a snake. But 

 he does not recollect whether in this instance, it was a rattle- 

 snake or not. 



3d. General Gibson, the Commissary General of our army, has 

 also assured me that he has seen the rattle-snake upon, bushes, 

 and upon the top rail of fences. He likewise stated a case in 

 which he saw a rattle-snake in the fork of a tree, about eight 

 feet from the ground, coiled and at rest. The tree stood by it- 

 self, and the diameter of its trunk was upwards of one foot. He 

 knocked the snake out of the fork and killed it. 



I could cite many other cases, but I prefer limiting myself to 

 these, as I am personally acquauited with the gentlemen named, 

 and received the stories from their own mouths. 



Now after these facts, I cannot suppose that any reasonable 

 man will doubt the ability of the rattle-snake to climb. Both 

 generals Jessup and Gibson are well acquainted with this snake, 

 are good observers, and fond of the woods. The latter particu- 

 larly so, being now one of our most expert sportsmen, and has 

 been during his life, stationed in almost every state of our union. 

 He is also particularly attentive to the habits of the animals, 

 which in the course of his amusement, he seeks either to obtain 

 or to avoid. I have been often delighted with his anecdotes on 

 these subjects, and have more than once made the reflection, of 

 how much information might be obtained by the naturahst if he 

 would consult the inteUigent and observing sportsman. In fact, 

 if the naturalist does not, at times, make the dog his companion, 

 and the woods his home, there are many of the works of nature 

 which will be to him as a sealed book. 

 Washington, Oct. 21, 1831. 



♦ Porcella Triloba.— Ed. 



