MISCEILAMEO US 



THE RATTLESNAKE. 



This snake is peculiar, we believe, to North A- 

 merica, and was formerly found in great abundance 

 in New England — but since the country has be- 

 come settled, and an exterminating war declared 

 against these noxious reptiles, tlieir nuuibfrs have 

 rapidly decreased, and now they are seldom seen. 

 They are still to be found, however, occasionally, 

 we believe, in certain parts of every New England 

 State, but generally confine themselves to rocky 

 ledges in uncultivated tracks of the country. In 

 Chester, N. H., there is a hill, which, from the 

 great number of these reptiles which formerly made 

 it their abiding place, is called Rattlesnake Hill. 

 A few still remain — and they are sometimes killed 

 in the adjoining towns, where they wander in 

 aearch of water. 



A number of years have passed away since an 

 occurrence took place in the neighborhood of Ches- 

 ter, which caused considerable excitement in the 

 neighboring families at the time, and which is still 

 worth relating. Some men were employed in 

 mowing a meadow, which was at a distance from 

 any dwelling or road — and as the weather was sul- 

 try and many parts of the meadow covered with 

 water, one of them, Mr R., thouglit proper to divest 

 himself of nearly all his garments, and led the van 

 of the mowers, sans cullote .' It is well known that 

 at this season, when droughth generally prevails, 

 rattlesnakes are very apt to come down from the 

 high lands in quest of water — and as Mr R. got at 

 the end of his swarth, and stepped on the dry land, 

 he placed his foot almost in contact with a huge 

 rattlesnake, which raised its tail, gave it a few 

 quick and sharp shakes, and sprung at the poor 

 man just as he turned to flee, half frightened to 

 death ftuni the venomous reptile ! His crooked, 

 poisonous fangs entered the lower part of the only 

 garment which Mr R. wore at the time — the text- 

 ure of which was particularly strong, and they could 

 not be easily disengaged. Mr R. gave a scream 

 and started off on the full run; the snake sticking 

 to him closer than a brother. He passed through 

 woods, bushes, fields and pastures — he crossed 

 fences, ditclies, brooks and bogs — he jumped, hal- 

 looed, galloped, and screamed for aid — vainly try- 

 ing to rid himself of his ugly-looking associnte. At 

 length, crazy with fear and fatigue, he reached the 

 public road, and passed along it on the way to his 

 dwelling house,. at a rate which would have aston- 

 ished the most desperate pedestrian — looking be- 

 hind him at intervals, and screaming whenever ho 

 beheld the horrid appendage to his homespun linen 

 garment. He passed several persons in the road, 

 wJio were thunderstruck at the sight of the unfor- 

 tunate man cutting up such antics, using such vio- 

 lent exercise — and exhibiting himself in dishabille, 

 without regard to propriety or decency. Mr R. at 

 length reached his own dwelling, a distance of 

 three miles from the meadow — the door of which 

 stood invitingly open, through which he nuhed tO' 

 the consternation of the women folks— having still 

 attached to him the grim looking reptile. By this 

 time he was completely overcome with terror, heat, 

 and fatigue, and fell fainting on the floor. The 

 poor rattlesnake, however, had got the worst of it, 

 and had been threshed about at such an unmerci- 

 ful rate, that his life, as well as a large portion of 

 his tail, had departed, long before he reached the 



^al 



[n the wild hills and trap ledges of Ulanchester, 



Saugus, and Lynn, in this State, this reptile is still 

 seen and sometimes killed — of a size measuring 

 five and six feet in length. It is also found among 

 the hills in some portions of the interior — especial- 

 ly on Mount Tom and Mount Holyoke on the banks 

 of ihe Connecticut. 



In some parts of the western country the rattle- 

 snakes abound, and grow to the size of six or sev- 

 en feet. Hunters, or persons who have occasion 

 to explore the woods, glens, and uncultivated spots, 

 wear leggins, made of stout deer skins, to protect 

 their legs against the bite of this venomous animal, 

 as they seldom strike their enemy at a point high- 

 er than the calf of the leg. When a party of hun- 

 ters or travellers find it necessary to encamp at 

 night, they select a suitable sfKJt, examine it thor- 

 oughly, that there are no holes or rocks about it, 

 which may serve as abiding places to venomous 

 reptiles, and then draw around thcin at a proper 

 distance, a stout rope manufactured of horse hair, 

 thus describing a sort of magic circle, in which the 

 members of the party enter, throw themselves on 

 the ground, and repose without any fear of intru- 

 ders in the shape of snakes — as it is a singular 

 fact that these creatures will never crawl over a 

 rope made of horse hair ! It is not uncommon to 

 find on awaking from their slumbers in the morn- 

 ing, several of these unwelcome vi.'-itors handsome- 

 ly coiled up at the distance of a few yards from 

 the circle I 



In the wild and mountainous region which sep- 

 arates Virginia from Kentucky, rattlesnakes are 

 found in immense numbers — indeed, great precau- 

 tions are necessary in travelling among these ledg- 

 es, lest the traveller receives a fatal wound. In 

 the latter part of September they may be seen 

 crawling up by hundreds from the low lands, in 

 search of winter quarters,' and congregating by 

 thousands in various spots, where they may be 

 seen by whoever wishes to indulge in such a curi- 

 os.ity, sunning themselves on the precipices. '! his 

 tract is also the favorite abode of the catamount, 

 the panther of North America. 



Rattlesnakes are also found in great abundance 

 to ihe westward of the Rocky mountains. Cox, in 

 his adventures on Columbia river, says, "these 

 venomous reptiles are so numerous near the Grande 

 Rapid, that they are seen in immense numbers 

 basking in the sun, and crawling among the rocks. 

 At one time, half a dozen of the party fired at a 

 bunch lying under one rock, and killed and wound- 

 ed thirtyseven." 



In the western part of Michigan, and in the Wis- 

 consin Territory, a species of rattlesiiske abounds, 

 which is smaller than the ordinary yellow rattle- 

 snake, and of a hue almost approaching to black. 

 They are very venomous. In some places on the 

 banks of the Wisconsin, the numbers of these rep- 

 tiles have decreased astonishingly since hogs have 

 been introduced by the settlers. Swine declare 

 war against them, never ending war, and hunt them 

 for the sake of their carcasses, which they consid- 

 er a great delicacy. And what is singular, the 

 j bite of the snake seems to have no injurious eflTect 

 I on the hog — who never hesitates about attacking 

 I one of the largest size. He seizes the reptile by 

 i the middle with his teeth, and maugre all his writh- 

 I ings, and hisses, and bites, soon tears him to pieces, 

 '' and devours him with all the apparent relish of an 

 I epicure ! 



I The largest rattlesnake of which we have any 

 authentic intelligence, was one killed some years 

 I since on the shores of Apalachicola Bay, in Florida, 



which measured nine feet si.x inches in length and 

 had twentyone rattles ! He was a real old bruiser, 

 with long and crooked fangs like a man's finger. 

 A wound inflicted by such an animal must be very 

 inconvenient, to say the least. — Bost. Merc. Jour. 



The largest library in the country is the " Phil- 

 adelphia Library," established by Franklin It 



contains about 50,000 volumes. Respectable 

 strangers are permitted to use the books during 

 the hours at which it is open, a privilege which 

 may be improved to advantage, since there are 

 many rare and valuable manuscripts connected 

 with the times of the Revolution to be found here 

 preserved. The second library in size is that of 

 Harvard University, near Boston — containing about 

 40,000 volumes. 



In Germantown the leaves of the mulberry are 

 made into delicious pies I in another place they are 

 dried as a substitute for Young Hyson tea! and it 

 is said that a down-easter is making paper of them! 



REVOLVING HORSIS R.VKE. 



The Revolving Rake which has been in general use iii 

 most parts of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, is found tn be 

 one of ihe most useful and labor saving machines now ia 

 use. One man and horse with a lioy to lead, will rake on 

 an average from 25 to 30 acres per day, wiih ease, and do 

 the work well. They are are coming into very general use 

 in all parts of the country, and will, no doulit, in a lew years 

 supersede the use of the common hand rake. There is a 

 great advantage in this rake over all others, as the person 

 using it does not have to slop the horse to unload the rake. 

 For sale hy JOSEPH BREUK (2. CO., 61 and 52 North 

 Market Street. 



GRAIN CRADLES. 



The Grain Cradle is an arlicle which is coming into very 

 general use in the New England States, where they were till 

 ol late but little known, although they have been in very 

 general use in the southern and we>icrn Slates, for many 

 years, and which is found to be decidedly the best mode o 

 harvesting grain, as it is supposed one man will cradle fiv' 

 acres in a rl.-^y when he cannot reap more than one Fo* 

 sale hy JOSEPH BRECK & CO., 51 & 52 North Marke' 

 Street. t 



July 10. 



A GARDENER WANTED. 



One who understands his business and has good habits. 

 Inquire of Mr BRECK, Agricultural Store. G. C. B. 



August 7. 



THE NEW ENGLA\D FARMER 



Is puDiished every Wednesday Evening, at S3 per annum 

 payable »t the end of the year — but those who pay within 

 sixty days from the time of subscribing are entitled to a de- 

 duclionof 59 cents- 



TCTTI-E, DENNETT AND CHISHOLM, FRINTCRS, 



n SCHOOL 3TREKT... .BOSTON 



