188 RATTLE SN.4KE. 



Along the back fins run from the head to the tail, which 

 is spirally curved. The eggs of this fish are hatched in a 

 pouch, formed by an expansion of the skin, which in some 

 is placed under the belly, and in others at the base of the 

 tail, and which open to allow the young to get out. 



In Europe this fish is often seen in cabinets and museums 

 in a dried state. 



THE BANDED RATTLE- SNAKE 



Is very abundant in North and South America, but it is 

 not found in high latitudes, either to the North or South. 

 It is about four feet or five feet in length, and of yellowish 

 brown colour, marked throughout with bands of a deep 

 brown ; the scales on the upper parts of the body are 

 oval, and are carinated, or marked with a ridge. The 

 under parts are of a yellowish brown, duskily marked. 

 The rattle is composed of hard, dry, homey bones, of a 

 roundish form, fitting one into another, and connected 

 with the last joint of the back bone. It is agitated, very 

 strongly, when the animal is angry, and serves as a 

 warning to the unwary traveller, who has offended it. 

 Some authors account for the celebrated power of the 

 rattle-snake, to fascinate its prey, by saying, that the 

 squirrels, or birds, terrified by the well-known noise so 

 close to them, skip from bough to bough, till, quite 

 wearied, they fall almost into the snake's mouth, which 

 stands open to receive them. Others deny that any such 

 power is possessed by the snake, though it appears to be 

 proved by numerous well attested facts. The usual 

 account given is, that the snake fixes his bright eye on 

 the animal which he designs for his prey, and that the 

 creature, as if charmed, approaches by degrees, and enters 

 into the mouth of its enemy. The rattle-snake will not 

 attack, unless offended ; its dreadful power of inflicting 

 death appearing to be designed for the purposes of feeding 

 rather than defence. It is easy to escape its pursuit, as 

 the animal is slow in its movements. It generally carries 

 its head on the ground, but when irritated coils up the 

 lower parts of his body, and erects it head with a fierce 

 aspect, at the same time agitating its rattle. It cannot 

 spring from any distance. The bite is deadly in the 

 extreme, inflicting death on the smaller animals in a few 

 minutes ; and on man, in a very short time. The snake 



