HATTLE SNAKES. 177 



kctions of snakes coiled together. They are 

 eagerly sought after for their oil and gall, whicli 

 are used in sprains and rheumatisms; and Itrr 

 their flesh, which has been applied in consump- 

 tions ; and they are frequently destroyed by fires 

 j^iade accidentally, or for clearing the woods, and 

 sometimes they bite with great fury at the flames. 

 Owing to these causes their numbers are much dimi- 

 nished, and they are only preserved from extirpation 

 by the fastnesses and deep recesses of the moun- 

 tains. 



During the late war, a detachment of the ^^.me- 

 rican army was encamped two miles north of Ni- 

 agara, at a place calUxi Snake Hill, which was 

 greatly annoyed by rattle snakes. In order to 

 keep them off, the tents were surrounded by 

 boughs of the ash tree, which preventive, hereto- 

 fore considered certain, was found unavailing.* 

 Some were killed on the parade, and one morn- 

 ing a soldier shook two out of his blanket. This 

 country is champaign, and there is no mountain 

 nearer than eight miles. 



Is it irue that rattle snakes are killed every 



* This notion may be traced back to Piiny, who assorts it i^^ 

 his Nadiral History. The Americans have derived it fVoni their 

 Erio'^lish ancestor?, vhu believed in it, and perhaps it is now 

 g-G!v. r.dly accredited ui Engiiiud. It is hardly accessary to say 

 that it is enlirely unfouodetj, 



