NOTE-BOOK OF A NATUEALIST. 219 



were selected for the occasion. One was put into the 

 cage with the serpent, which immediately struck it. The 

 rat was dead in two minutes. A second was then placed 

 in the cage, to the furthest corner of which it retreated, 

 uttering piercing cries of distress. The serpent, conscious 

 probably of the late loss of virus, lay quiet ; but when 

 about half an hour had elapsed it was irritated, and then 

 struck the second rat, which showed no symptoms of 

 having received the poison for several minutes ; and 

 twenty minutes after the bite elapsed before this victim 

 died. Then a third very large rat was introduced into 

 the cage. This showed no signs of terror, and the snake 

 did not appear to notice the intruder, though both were 

 watched throughout the evening, and at night they were 

 left together. The next morning Mr. Bell's friend rose 

 early and visited the cage. But the tables were now 

 turned. The snake lay dead and mutilated; for the rat 

 had feasted upon the flesh of its back. 



Some of our readers may remember the distressing 

 case of a carpenter, who came to see the show of a real 

 live rattlesnake. Anxious probably to hear the serpent's 

 rattle, the carpenter teased it with his rule, which, un- 

 fortunately, he dropped into the cage. He tried to 

 regain it, and while he was attempting to reach it the 

 snake bit him in the hand. He was taken to one of our 

 hospitals, had the assistance of some of the first surgeons 

 in London, and resisted the effects of the poison so long 

 that hopes were entertained. But the shock to the con- 

 stitution was too great, and after lingering many days 

 he sank under the consequences of the bite. 



Dr. Mead relates a similar case, with a much happier 

 result : — 



A man was bit on one of his fingers by a rattlesnake, just then 

 brought over from Virginia. He immediately put Ms fingers into 

 his month and sucked the icoitnd. His under-hp and tongue were 

 presently swelled to a great degree : he faltered in his speech, 

 and in some measure lost his senses. He then di-ank a large 



L 2 



