NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Perfectly inoffensive if not provoked. 



below the ligature, appeared of several colors, 

 with a writhing among the muscles, that, to his 

 terrified imagination, appeared like the motions 

 of the animal that had wounded him. A fever 

 ensued ; the loss of his hair, giddiness, drought, 

 weakness, and nervous faintings, till, by slow de- 

 grees, a very strong habit overpowered the latent 

 malignity of the poison. . 



These animals, if not provoked, are per- 

 fectly inoffensive, being so much alarmed at 

 the sight* of a man, as always, if possible, to 

 avoid him, and never commencing an attack. 

 Mr. St. John once saw a tamed rattle snake, as 

 gentle as it is possible to conceive a reptile to be. 

 It went to the water and swam whenever it 

 pleased, and when those to whom it belonged 

 called it back, their summons was immediately 

 obeyed. It had been deprived of its fangs, and 

 its keeper often stroked it with a soft brush, 

 which friction seemed to cause the most plea- 

 sing sensation, for it would thereupon turn on 

 its back to enjoy it as a cat does before th& 

 fire. 



The American Indians often regale on the 

 rattle snake, which, when they find asleep, they 

 put a "small forked stick over ks neck, which 

 they keef> immovably fixed to the ground, giving 

 the animal a piece of leather to bite, and this 

 they pull back with great force till they observe 

 that the poisonous fangs are torn out. Thej 



