242 



SNAKES. 



have. The old view was that it was intended to warn creatures preyed on by 

 these reptiles of the approach of their enemy ; but, in regard to this supposition, 

 Darwin well observes that " I would almost as soon believe that the cat curls the 

 end of its tail when preparing to spring in order to warn the doomed mouse. It 

 is a much more probable view that the rattle-snake uses its rattle, the cobra 

 expands its frill, and the puff-adder swells while hissing so loudly and harshly, in 

 order to alarm the many birds and beasts which are known to attack even the most 

 venomous species. Snakes act on the same principle which makes a hen ruffle her 

 feathers and expand her wings when a dog approaches her chickens." In this 

 passage the writer commits himself to the view that the rattle is an instrument of 

 intimidation. It may, however, be observed that the sound would be quite as 



THE BUSHMASTER 



likely to attract enemies as to repel them. Moreover, it is now a well -ascertained 

 fact that rattle-snakes do not possess the power of hissing ; and as that faculty 

 seems more closely connected with fear than with any other emotion, it would be 

 quite reasonable to suppose that the rattle stands in place of the hiss. Another 

 feature in the controversy is the circumstance that the sound of the rattle of one 

 snake causes all its kindred within hearing to sound their own ; and the organ 

 therefore probably serves as a means of communication. What is known as 

 the " dinner-bell " theory, that is, that a rattle-snake attracts insects like grass- 

 hoppers and cicadas within striking distance by the resemblance of the sound 

 of its rattle to their own stridulating utterances, has been pretty clearly 

 disproved; while if it required a further quietus, the circumstance that these 

 reptiles do not appear to prey habitually upon insects would be sufficient. On 



