THE BANDED RATTLE-SNAKE. 83 



animal. The a£onv of the bird was so great that it 

 was deprived of the power of moving away ; and 

 when one of the party killed the snake, it was found 

 dead upon the spot — and that entirely from fear — ■ 

 for on examination it appeared not to have received 

 the slightest wound. 



The same gentleman informs us that a short time 

 afterwards he observed a small mouse, in similar 

 agonizing convulsions, about two yards distant from 

 a snake, whose eyes were intently fixed upon it ; 

 and on frightening away the reptile, and taking up 

 the mouse, it expired in his hand. 



The Hottentots who were with him said that 

 this was very common ; and the fact was confirmed 

 by the assertions of all to whom he mentioned these 

 instances *. 



Dr. Barton of Philadelphia, however, after having 

 examined with some care into the subject, is of opi- 

 nion that the report of this fascinating property has 

 had its rise in nothing more than the fears and cries 

 of birds and other animals in the protection of their 

 nests and young. He says that " the result of not 

 a little attention has taught him that there is but 

 one wonder in the business ; — the wonder that 

 the story should ever have been believed by any man 

 of understanding and observation f ." But the above 

 facts, if they are such, and, till they are proved 

 otherwise, we must esteem them such, apply so ill 

 to Dr. Barton's conclusion as to induce a supposi- 



* Le Variant's New Travels, i. 33 — 37. 

 f AimT. Phi!. Tran. ir. 74 — 114. 



G 2 



