78 AUDUBON, THE NATURALIST 



professor of chemistry in Dickinson College as well as 

 in the University of Pennsylvania, and at this time 

 president of South Carolina College at Columbia, was 

 able to confirm Audubon's account of the climbing habit 

 of the rattlesnake, and probably wrote this statement 

 at his request: 



DR. THOMAS COOPER. 



After a contemporary silhouette. 



Thomas Cooper to Audubon 



COLUMBIA S. CAROLINA 



Octr 21. 1833 



MR AUDUBON 

 DEAR SIR 



About three weeks ago, my son and two of my black ser- 

 vants, observed a very large rattle snake climbing up the fence 

 that separates my garden from the road, at my country house. 

 The snake put himself in the attitude of striking; whereupon 

 one of the men ran for a gun, and shot the snake on the last 

 rail but one of the fence. The snake was 4.3 long ; as thick as 

 my wrist, and had seven rattles. 

 I am Dear Sir 



Your obedient servant 



THOMAS COOPER 



