FAS 
ee aaa 
cle. (w) 
FASCINATION is the name given to an influence 
which certain animals are supposed to possess over 
other animals, which serve them for food. This fa- 
culty has beew ascribed to toads, hawks, eats, owls, 
tigers, and various other animals, but particularly to 
the rattlesnake and other American It is sup- 
posed by some naturalists, as Kalm, that the small 
birds, squirrels, &c.. which have been seen to fall from 
the branches of trees into the mouth of the rattle- 
snake, must have been previously bitten by the snake; 
and being thus debilitated, were unable either to esca 
or to remain the tree, Others, nadia Ohpedd, 
—— that rattlesnake produces the effect by 
stupifying vapour emitted from its body; while 
ching as Linneus and Blumenbach, ascribe the effect 
pane neve terror inspired by the rattle which is 
to reside in tail of this animal. Dr 
Smith Barton of Philadelphia, has drawn 
up two interesting memoirs, the object of which 
is to prove there is no solid foundation for the opi- 
nion that ts are endued with the faculty of fas- 
charming other animals, and we think 
that he has succeeded, at least, in rendering this opi- 
nion very doubtful, if not in completely overturning it. 
Such of our readers as wish to prosecute the subject, 
are referred to the following works, where they will 
find information on the subject. 
See , Hist. Nat, lib. viii. cap. 14. Linneus Sys- 
tema Nature, art. Crotalus Horridus. Professor Peter 
‘Kalm, Travels into North America, vol. i. p. 317, $18 ; 
vol. ii. p. 207, 208, 209, 210, Eng. Transl. London, 
1770—1. Kalm, Memoirs of the Swedish Academy of 
Sciences for 1753. Mather, Phil. Trans. No. 339. 
Hans Sloane, Phil. Trans. 1734, vol. xxxviii. No. 433. 
p. 321. Dudley, Phil. Trans. 1723, vol. xxxii. No. 
376. p. 292. La Cepede, Histoire Naturelle des Ser- 
pens, p. 409—411, Paris, 1789. Pennant’s Arctic 
welt App: pcbil., Blunsenbech, Hlondbwol der No- 
511 lumen ch der Na-~ 
frgesclaht 253. Gotting. 1791. Benjamin —_ 
Barton, American Transactions, vol. iv. This 
was published separately under the title of A a 
concerning the Fascinating Faculty which has been as- 
cribed to the Rattlesnake, and oth American Serpents, 
-~ -Philadelphi Barton’s S to the above 
lemoir, . elphia, 1801. The preceding papers are 
published also in Nicholson's Journal, vol. vii. p. 270 ; 
vol. viii. p. 58, 100; vol. xiii. p. $00. Blumenbach’s 
Reply to Dr Smith Barton, was published in Voigis 
Magazin fur-der neussten astand der Naturkunde, Part 
il. 1798, andin Tilloch’s Phi ical Magazine, vol. 
ii. Pe 251. See also Ironside in the Phil. Mag. vol. xiv. 
= 19; Gentleman’s Magazine, 1765, p. 511; T 
os ~ ae p. 879; and Michaelis, 
pe orp wary 1785. (7 
Gre ‘partial or total abstinence of man- 
Kind andl anisole hen the ordi rondnatin 
ply of aliment, by which is to be understood that 
gener eaallsiliewas in a heal- 
ay aod goon given - few examples 
of the faculty —s 
STINENCE, creatures to resist 
, while ovina privation of sus 
serena eel oye ae ro 
uences ing of 
mankind. It is a prevalent opinion, that the sudden 
284 
FAS 
reduction of food will immediately 
q 
extent am dat death will ene See 
especially if to a great extent ; and death will ene 
sue from total privation, ‘even for the shortest term be-- 
rte ere our accustomed necessi- 
ties. ut n 
othing can be more erroneous ; for the re- 
verse is satisfactorily established by pee cr anew 
instances, 
me os animated tribes peace subsitene nee 
from the uncertain capture ’ in this num- 
pramarnoae ranked in hit orginal state ane in 
general capable of resisting impressions of hunger 
tor a considerable period. Sleep follows the labours of 
the chase, and digestion is not conducted with rapidity. 
Removed from that ori state, however, custom 
usurps the place of nature ; and, on looking to the enor- 
mous quantities of food consumed by those atound us, 
we should be apt to conclude, that not less than several 
pounds daily are required for the preservation of health 
incor giche, ths ecu snclias ooaipenseanueete 
n glo’ t an ce 
tite asa proportion of the population of these king~ 
doms, nor by whom any abridgment would be more 
sensibly + felt and it accordingly appears, that in war- 
fare, on occurrence of such occasions, the same ener- 
gies decline, which, to the combatants of other 
nations, have previously proved successful, — - 
In some eens seme a the supplies of fot 
are scanty and enjoying one a 
long interval ma: Sy clapes | before obtaining another ; yet 
the! aN ow do not —— Hy wees Continent of 
urope, the meals of the e for the most are 
few vane aiithe bicbioas qt asenrahe 
most universally abstemious: a cake of meal;and camel’s 
milk, are the chief subsistence of the Arabians :: millions 
of. Indians:subsist on rice alone, with water for their 
pen es be if we look into the state of the 
in some = the British dominions, 
we Scholae find many on ergeres | bat: 
Bi eva iis aniade wate ipcmnans 
ut there are countries 
though inhabited by men ; others have not yet been re~ 
claimed by agricultural operations, or, if sataen 4 
uncertainty of the cuales frequently disappoin 
paar of the husbandman ; and in this way does the 
tion of fasting arise. The vast continent of 
New’ olland, except for few and distant patches, ex- 
peer reste denn of steri berth mas 
searce offers any pacion 
persone Srblbeuneeeterpaneaidincbieneionten 
in so wide and ‘aterritory, the animal tribes can sel- 
dom be obtained for sustenance. ‘The incessant pursuit 
of those of size, as the ‘and kangaroo, 
has rendered ‘shy, while it diminishes their num~ 
bers. isa ous resource, both.from the 
precari 
- imperfect implements of the savages, from the. 
which constantly assail their coasts, and more 
from the of the fishes themselves. _ 
visages and emaciated bodies of the natives of the An- 
daman islands, indicate how sparingly the of 
nature are satisfied. They live in an : 
ded. state ; and, like brutes, their nat occu- 
pied in ly of food. Hitherto no at~ 
tempts saree stad bp them to cultivate the lands 
upon which they dwell ; and their whole subsistence’ is 
derived from what they can collect or kill. Though their. 
country be less i itable than that of the New Hal- 
landers, and their’ vegetable diet consist of the pro- 
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