lectloiio of snakes coiled together. Tney arc 

 eagerly sought after for their oil and gall, which 

 are used in sprains and rheumatisms ; and for 

 their flesh, which has been applied in consump- 

 tions : and thev are frequently destroyed bv fires 

 made accidentally, or for clearing the woods, and 

 sometimes they bite with great fury at the flames. 

 Owing to these causes tl<clr numbers are much dimi- 

 nished, and they are only preserved from extirpation 

 by the fastnesses and deep recesses of the moun- 

 tains. 



During the late war, a detachment of the Ame- 

 rican army was encamped two miles north of Ni- 

 agara, at a place called Snake Hill, which' was 

 greatly annoyed by rattle snakes. In order to 

 keep them off. he tents were surrounded by 

 boughs of the ash tree, which preventive, hereto- 

 fore considered certain, was found unavailing.* 

 Some were killed v>n the parade, and one morn- 

 ing a soldier shook two out of his blanket. lis 

 country is champaign, and there is no moi 

 nearer than c;<jiit miles. 



Is it true that rattle snakes are killed every 



This notion may be traced I tck to Plin] •• ri 



his Natural rlhtorj ; lie fconeri ms have d m their 



En i h anc< itoi , \\!i<> believed mi:,. 



Ij accredited iu J ; ii hajrdh a - 



that it is entirely unfounded 



