1923] 



POPE, RATTLESNAKE FACTS AND FALLACIES 



135 



The belief that a rattlesnake can leap bodily or even strike its full 

 length is also fallacious as well as illogical. To quote again from the 

 well-known authority, Ditmars. 'Tf concerned, it will fight bravely, 

 assuming a loose and irregular coil, and striking with such dexterity 

 that the eye can scarcely follow the movement. It strikes generally 

 a third, sometimes half its length, but never springs bodily as alleged 

 by the writers of sensational snake stories. "^^ 



"At most, the snake strikes about one-half its length when deliver- 

 ing an accurately aimed blow, and generally strikes a much shorter 



Fig. 79. — Rattlesnake in striking attitude. 



distance, in proportion to its length. Not unless goaded into a condi- 

 tion of frenzy does it strike a distance equal to two-thirds of the length, 

 and such blows are wild, and dehvered aimlessly.'^'' Nor is it necessary 

 for the snake to be coiled to deal a blow. While retreating toward 

 shelter it will often turn and from a crawling position draw back the 

 head by contracting the neck into an S-shaped loop, and strike read- 

 ily. "^^ However, in order to strike it must maintain a grip on the 

 ground or other object with at least one-third of its body. Many 



3ilbid., p. 446. 

 35lbid., p. 405. 

 36Ibid., p. 446. 



