146 The Natural Historg 



I hope it will not be unpleasing to the Reader to insert 

 the following Account in relation to a Eattle-Snake and a 

 Dog, as it hai^pened during my residence there, viz. A 

 Planter having taken a Rattle-snake in a ]S^oose, put it into a 

 Barrel, and brought it to Edentown, and told the Inhabitants, 

 that if they would make him drink, lie would shew them 

 some Diversion ; that he had a living Rattle-snake, and a Dog 

 that would fight it, who had killed several in his time; the 

 proposal Avas readily consented to by all that were present. 

 The Planter immediately turned out the Snake (which was 

 very large) whilst another held the Dog, as we generally do 

 our Bull-Dogs. A large Ring was instantly made and every 

 one cry'd out for fair Play, viz. That the Snake should 

 have time to gather itself into a Quoil, or posture of Defence, 

 which it very quickly did, and immediately began to Rattle 

 it's Tail: Every thing being ready, the Dog was let loose, 

 and attacked the Snake ; his usual way of killing them, was, 

 to shake them at full length out of their Quoil, in which Post- 

 ure they can neither leap nor bite; but this Snake being so 

 large, the Dog had not strength enough to do it In the first 

 encounter he only bit it, which the Snake as readily returned, 

 biting the Dog by the Ear, which made him cry and quit his 

 hold, and seemed to be stun'd, or like one in a MegTim. But 

 the Company encouraged the Dog, and set him on again: In 

 the second encounter it bit the Dog by the Lip, and imme- 

 diately after bit itself, the Dog in a little time began to cry 

 and reel about as if drunk or in a Megrim, grew regardless of 

 his Master's calling him, and in half an Hour dyed, and the 

 Snake in about a Quarter. I had not related this, had I 

 not been an Eye-witness to the whole proceeding. The Poy- 

 son both of Viper and Mad-dog (I conceive) kill, by thick- 

 nine: 



