BANDED RATTLF.-SXAKZ. 



particularly birds and squirrels (which principally 



' heir prey), no sooner spy the snake, than they 



sUp from spray to spray, hovering and approach- 



dually nearer to their enemy, regardless of 



any other danger; but with distracted gestures 



and outcries, descend, though from the top of the 



loftiot trees, to the mouth of the snake, who 



openeth his jaws, takes them in, and in an instant 



sualiows them." 



On this subject Dr. Mead, in his work on poi- 

 sons, expresses himself as follows: 



' With respect to the use of the Rattle, a vul- 

 gar error has obtained, even among the learned, 

 about it. It is commonly said that it is a kind 

 contrivance of divine Providence, to give warn- 

 ing to passengers by the noise which this part 

 makes when the creature moves, to keep out of 

 the way of its mischief. Now this is a mistake. 

 It is beyond all dispute that wisdom and goodness 

 shine forth in all the works of the Creation ; but 

 the contrivance here is of another kind than is 

 imagined. All the parts of animals are made 

 either for the preservation of the individual, or 

 for the propagation of its species: this before us is 

 for the service of the individual. This snake lives 

 chiefly upon squirrels and birds, which a reptile 

 never catch without the advantage of some 

 management to bring them within its reach. The 

 ia this. The Snake creeps to the foot of a 

 tree, and, by shaking his rattle, awakens the little 

 creature* \\hich are lodged in it. They are so 

 flighted at the sight of their enemy, who fixes his 



