RATTLE SNAKES. 179 



I have already mentioned the failure of an ex- 

 periment relative to the efficacy of white ash 

 against the approaches of the rattle snake. I 

 have been told of a rattle snake that had been 

 kept in a cage eight months without food, and 

 without any apparent diminution of bulk. Al- 

 though furious when enraged, it is alleged, that 

 he would not bite at a white ash stick. And it is 

 asserted, that if you enclose this serpent by a cir- 

 cumvallation of white ash leaves and fire, that he 

 will elect to make his retreat through the flames.* 

 It is said that the juice of the leaves of the ash has 

 been found efficacious against the bite of the colu- 

 ber chcrsea, the asping of the Swedes, which like 

 the prester of Lucan, kills by a horrible swelling 

 of the whole human frame, and which inhabits 

 only a particular district of Sweden among the 

 willows. It is certain that there are districts of 

 country in which rattle snakes are never seen, 

 while at no great distance they abound. For in- 

 stance, they have never been known to inhabit the 

 town of New-Berlin, in Chenango county, and 

 yet they have been found about ten miles off, 

 towards the mouth of the Unadilla. It is said 

 that they avoid land timbered with beech and ma- 

 ple. Whether the cause arises from the timber 



* This superstitious idea was refuted in a note to the last 

 number. 



