164 ON ANIMAL AND 



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judge of its age, by the number of articulations of 

 its tail, which, in some instances, have amounted 

 to nearly forty. 



This apparatus, when taken from the tail, bears 

 a resemblance to the curb chain of a bridle, and 

 is composed of a certain number of thin, hard, 

 hollow bones, loosely connected to each other; 

 so that when the animal shakes its tail (which it 

 always does when irritated and alarmed,) it 

 produces a noise like a rattle. As this is to be 

 heard at a considerable distance, it affords time 

 for escape to those animals that otherwise might 

 be in the greatest danger from its approach. 

 This animal, however, never inflicts a wound 

 upon man, excepting when trodden upon, or 

 irritated ; but, on the contrary, flies from his 

 advance whenever he finds the least chance of 

 escaping ; and when we add to this circumstance, 

 the precautions observed by the inhabitants, when 

 engaged in the woods where these animals pre- 

 vail ; it will easily be understood, why wounds, 

 from the bite of a rattle snake, are not of very 

 frequent occurrence. 



When, however, the animal is accidentally or 

 intentionally irritated, it immediately throws itself 

 into a circle, pushes back its head, and, with 

 great rapidity and violence, injects its deadly 

 poison into the object of its vengeance; and 

 according to the degree of irritation, repeats its 

 attack as often as its strength will allow. 



