$4 THE BANDED RATTLE-SNAKE. 



tion that his opinion is not so well founded as it 

 might appear to be from the perusal of his pa- 

 per only, and without comparing it with other ac- 

 counts. 



In summer the Rattle-Snakes are generally found 

 in pairs : in winter they collect in multitudes, and 

 retire into the ground, beyond the reach of the 

 frost. Tempted by the warmth of a spring day, 

 they are often observed to creep out in a weak and 

 languid state. Mr. Pennant mentions that a per- 

 son has seen a piece of ground covered with them, 

 and that he killed, with a rod, between sixty and 

 seventy - } till, overpowered with the stench, he was 

 obliged to retire*. 



The American Indians often regale on the Rattle- 

 Snake. — When they find them asleep, they put a 

 small forked stick over their necks, which they keep 

 immoveably fixed to the ground, giving the snake a 

 piece of leather to bite ; and this they pull back 

 several times with great force until they observe 

 that the poisonous fangs are torn out. They then 

 cut off the head, skin the body, and cook it as we 

 do eels; and the flesh is said to be extremely 

 white and good f . 



* Penn. Arct. Zool. + Hector St. John, — Biickell, 145. 



