FANGS OF THE RATTLESNAKE. 317 



scarcely be heard as it makes its way slowly through 

 the grass and brushwood, so that a person might easily 

 come close upon it without observing it. 



The head of the rattlesnake is large and flat, and of 

 a triangular shape. It is covered with scales, similar to 

 those on the back ; the scales on the muzzle and over 

 the eyes being very large. The mouth is very wide, 

 and the snake is able to swallow animals and birds of a 

 large size, without much inconvenience. Behind each 

 nostril the upper lip is pierced with a little groove. In 

 the upper jaw are placed the deadly fangs, concealed 

 between the external and internal jaws, like the blade 

 of a penknife in its sheath. The fangs are curved 

 like the claws of a cat, and are frequently half an inch 

 in length ; about a tenth part of an inch from the point 

 is an orifice, through which the deadly venom is dis- 

 charged. The gland which contains the poison is at 

 the base of the tooth, and on examination will be 

 found two or three drops of a fluid, which much re- 

 sembles clear honey in appearance. This poison bag 

 is so connected with the hollow part of the fang, when 

 it is in a state of erection, that a very slight pressure 

 or resistance forces it through the orifice with consider- 

 able violence into the wound made by the point. The 

 rattlesnake cannot be fairly said to bite its victims; 

 but, opening its jaws to their widest extent, it 

 throws its head forward, striking the fangs like hooks 

 into the unhappy object of its rage, and driving the 



