The Rattlesnakes 



abundant species of the plains is a vicious reptile. Though 

 it never actually attacks, it puts up such a show of fight that 

 the attitude is far from reassuring to the uninitiated in the ways 

 of rattlers. None of the rattlesnakes, large or small, throw 

 as much energy into the fighting coil as this species. When 

 surprised it flings its body into circular formation, raises the neck 

 some distance from the loose coils in the form of a sharply oblique 

 bow and jabs hurriedly at the enemy. So energetic is the stroke 

 that the writer has seen a snake slide forward several inches. 

 These antics soon give way to a good-natured laziness in captivity. 

 Captive specimens are hardy and fond of mice and birds. A 

 specimen in the writer's collection became so tame it would glide 

 to the door of the cage and take a dead mouse from his fingers ; 

 the operation was in no way dangerous as the snake in crawling 

 to the coveted morsel advanced with straightened neck and 

 was unable to "strike." The mouse was seized very gently 

 and at once swallowed. Mr. Walter Ralston, to whom the 

 writer is indebted for many interesting snakes, had several tame 

 specimens. They were in possession of their fangs, but Mr. 

 Ralston handled them like his harmless serpents and with never 

 a show of bad temper on the rattlers' part ; he jokingly remarked 

 that his snakes had forgotten how to rattle as they had not used 

 their caudal appendages for many months. 



The Prairie Rattlesnake is responsible for the oft-repeated 

 tale of the fraternal relations between the prairie dogs and the 

 rattler. In a way the story is true enough for the rattlesnake 

 frequently takes refuge in the burrows of the rodents, but it 

 instinctively seeks the deserted burrows as does the common 

 little owl of the plains. No sensible rattlesnake will] remain 

 above ground and fight the human invader when a deep burrow, 

 close at hand, offers secure retreat. Hence the human is incited 

 to theory. He has noted a rattlesnake disappear into the bur- 

 row of a prairie dog. On the horizon are the outlines of the 

 sentinel "dogs" of the town, watching the movements of the 

 intruder, who jams the facts together in such a fashion that 

 the snake becomes the inevitable inhabitant of the marmot 

 colony, and the appearance of a burrowing owl a few minutes 

 later results in the imaginary addition of another member to 

 the "happy family." Let actual conditions be understood: 

 The rattlesnake is a wanderer and its presence in the prairie 



457 



