RATTLESNAKES. 199 



While wandering about I killed a rattlesnake 

 nearly six feet long a size very seldom reached by 

 these reptiles. Its poison-teeth were as large as the 

 claws of a full-grown domestic cat. These serpents 

 are of all shades of colour, from a very dark greenish- 

 black to yellow. This description refers to the 

 timber variety, not to the massasauga or prairie- 

 rattlesnake, which very rarely exceeds twenty-four 

 inches in length, and is generally of a dirty-brown 

 hue. 



I was attracted by a flower resembling the wood 

 anemone when I came across this villain ; but, from 

 the energy with which he sprang his rattle, I had 

 ample warning to keep out of the way of danger. 



Pugilistically inclined he evidently was, for while 

 I retired a few paces to cut a stick with which to 

 administer the coup de grace, he never moved from 

 his place, but kept his tail vibrating like a telegraph- 

 wire in a gale of wind. Knowing as well as I do 

 the nature and powers of snakes, I experienced no 

 difficulty in depriving him of life by a couple of 

 sharp cuts with my rod. 



To the uninitiated I may mention that a rattle- 

 snake cannot jump at you, but simply strikes from an 

 elevation of one-third its length a height which is 

 obtained by coiling the body up. This reptile, 

 therefore, can only inoculate with poison an object 

 two feet from it. The traveller or sportsman who 

 wears long boots say up to his knee experiences 

 little danger from their attacks, as they cannot 



