Tue ZooLocist—Aveust, 1872. 3191 
call-note, as a hunter uses his bone turkey-caller, to induce the 
bird to come within the range of his weapon. Now the first ques- 
tion which naturally arises is this:—Does the snake sound its 
rattles when seeking to capture its prey? I have always under- 
stood that it is only when it throws itself upon the defensive and 
prepares for battle that the rattles are sounded; that it is an 
alarm note, a war-cry, and not a gentle, deceptive invitation to 
the victim. I have never seen a rattlesnake, and know of course 
nothing personally of its habits. But if this use is not made of 
the rattles as suggested by Prof. Shaler, and the sound only serves 
to call the attention of its enemies, and thus invite destruction, 
then indeed is the theory of natural selection nonplussed. But 
as I view the matter, instead of inviting his destruction by 
sounding the rattles, it is one of the most effective means of self- 
protection, and is as useful to it in the race for life as is the growl 
of the tiger when threatened with danger. The snake does not 
sound its rattles until it considers itself discovered, and not 
then unless it apprehends danger. It throws itself in position 
to strike, and says in unmistakable language, “Look out, I am 
ready for you!” If pushed upon, it makes a leap at its antagonist 
and again throws itself in position to renew the conflict, and again 
sounds the note of defiance; a note calculated to alarm, and, like 
the war-whoop of the Indian, strike terror to the heart of the 
assailant ; but it may be said that the Indian only utters his yells 
when rushing on his enemy, or when actually engaged in the con- 
flict, and the sounding of the rattles upon the first approach of 
danger is a disadvantage. Now it seems to me, if this were true, 
and if it be a piece of rashness upon the part of the snake thus early 
to exhibit his combativeness, that natural selection would cure the 
matter by selecting and preserving the more timid, and that, 
eventually, rattlesnakes would only sound their tail-bells when it 
would best promote their interests. 
We are not to judge of the advantage or disadvantage of the 
rattles by their effect upon the nerves of man alone, though no 
doubt many a man has turned his back and been deterred from 
making an attack by the sound of these rattles and the defiant 
attitude of their possessor. ; 
The ability of the snake to defend itself does not consist in its 
strength or size, or in its power of overcoming its adversary by 
a prolonged conflict, for most of its enemies are its superior in 
