THE RATTLESNAKE. 525 



THE RATTLESNAKE. 



Venomous as is the bite of the rattlesnake, and abounding 

 as it does in all parts of the continent, it is less dreaded than 

 many other serpents. It is, in the first place, very sluggish 

 in its habits ; and it is happily compelled to bear about it an 

 instrument which gives notice of its approach and intention 

 of biting. The South American rattlesnake the Boaquira 

 cro talus horridus has the rattle placed at the end of the 

 tail. It consists of several dry, hard, bony processes, so 

 shaped that the tip of each upper bone runs within two of the 

 bones below it. By this means they have not only a mov- 

 able coherence, but also make a multiplied sound, each bone 

 hitting against the others at the same time. The rattle is 

 placed with the broad end perpendicular to the body, the first 

 joint being fastened to the last vertebra of the tail by means 

 of a thick muscle under it, as well as by the membranes which 

 unite it to the skin. Indeed, an idea of this curious structure 

 may be formed by placing a number of thimbles one within 

 the other. These bony rings increase in number with the age 

 of the animal ; and they are generally found with from five 

 to fourteen. The sound produced has been compared to that 

 of knife-grinding. It cannot be heard at a distance, and in 

 rainy weather is almost inaudible. 



The effects of the bite vary according to the season of the 

 year ; indeed, at times it will seldom strike a foe, and the 

 venom is comparatively mild in its effects. At other times 

 the poison is of deadly intensity, and, should a large vein be 

 bitten, the victim speedily dies. 



Waterton describes handling a number of rattlesnakes 

 removing them from one apartment to the other with his 



