THE RATTLE-SNAKE. 199 



fcales are of a confiderable degree of hardnefs, oval, and rifing in the 

 middle. A Tingle row of fcales under both tail and belly. They are 

 oranee-tawnv, and blackifh-coloured on the back ; and of an afh-colour on 

 the belly, inclming to lead, with black fpots. The male may be readily 

 diftinguiflied from the female, by a black velvet fpot on the head, and by 

 the head being fmaller and longer. But that which is peculiar to them 

 is the rattle at the end of their tail, by which they make a loud rattling 

 noife when they move. 



This rattle is connpofed of feveral pieces, fronn one to thirty, alike 

 in form, and often in fize; brittle, elaftic, fenni-tranfparent, and of the fame 

 nature as the fcales ; pyramidal, having four fides, two oppofitc larger 

 than two others; that next the body inclofes the latter vertebra of the tail j 

 is formed upon them, and feparated from them by a very thin membrane, 

 fo as to fit them exaflly. Are hollow ; each piece locks into another, 

 being inclofed two thirds of its length in its fuccefibr, yet fo as to play 

 freely in it. Neither nerve nor mufcle attaches any of thefe rattles (ex- 

 cept that next the tail) to the fcrpent*s body, but an exterior covering in- 

 cludes them : the furtheft is formed firft, the internals afterwards, pufh- 

 ing that off gradually; the whole are very dry and brittle, and rattle by 

 flriking each other : their noife refembles the crackling of parchment; 

 may be heard fifty or fixty feet diftance : it were defirable that the dif- 

 tance were greater. 



It is fuppoftd by fome that the fnake acquires an additional bone 

 every year j and that from hence its age may be precifely known : bur this 

 is very uncertain, cfpecially as they eafily break off. Hov/ever this be, 

 fnakes of a year or two old have no rattles ; while many old ones have 

 been killed that had from eleven to thirteen ; and tradition fays, for- 

 merly fome had thirty or more. They fhake thefe rattles with prodigious 

 quicknefs when difturbed ; yet the peccary and the vulture, no way terri- 

 fied, haften at the fignal to feize the fnake, as their favourite prey. 



It moves along with the moft majeftic rapidity j neither feekingto of- 

 fend, nor fearing infult. Unprovoked, it meddles only with its natural 

 prey ; but when accidentally trod upon, or purfued, it makes a dreadful 

 and defperate defence. It folds itfelf into a circle, crefts itfelf on its 

 tail, throws back its head, and infli<fts its wound in a moment ; then parts, 

 and infli6lsa fecond wound. The inftant the wound is inflided, though 

 fmall, it appears more painful than the fting of a bee. This pain, which 

 is fo fuddenly felt, far from abating, grows every moment more excru- 

 ciating and dangerous : the whole body fwells ; the venom reaches the 



L, 1 2 head. 



