366 OF VENOMOUS SERPENTS. 



are much more dreadful than the viper's ; and the body 

 of it is entirely covered with scales ; those upon the 

 back are between an orange and a tanny ; and those on 

 the belly, an ash inclining to lead. 



The most extraordinary part of this animal's history 

 consists in that rattling noise which it makes with its 

 tail, occasioned by a collection of bones, which, when 

 taken out, very much resemble the different links in a 

 curb-bridle's chain. These rattles they shake with a 

 prodigious degree of quickness whenever they are dis- 

 turbed, or are in pursuit of their prey ; and the peccary 

 and the vulture are the only creatures that hear the 

 sound without the slightest appearance of dismay : 

 these dart down and seize the formidable animal, so as 

 to prevent it from being able to bite, and devour its 

 body without receiving the slightest injury, or expe- 

 riencing any bad effect. 



The very instant a wound is inflicted by this destruc- 

 tive animal, the pain is excruciating, and the part in- 

 flames and swells ; the eyes become red, the head en- 

 larges, the heart palpitates, and the whole frame is 

 parched with heat. In this agony the wounded person 

 remains five or six hours, and, if his constitution hap- 

 pens to be robust, double that space of time, by the 

 end of which the whole mass of blood becomes corrupt- 

 ed, a mortification ensues, and the ill-fated being dies! 



Several remedies have been tried to alleviate this ca- 

 lamity ; and there have been some few instances of 

 their answering a good effect : a decoction of Virginian 

 snake-root has obtained the preference, and an appli- 

 cation to the part affected, of the animal's head. The 

 Indians are so convinced of the corrosive poison of the 

 rattlesnake, that they dip the points of their arrows in 

 the cavity of its fangs ; for, not satisfied with merely 



