88 RATTLESNAKE, 



Place. Swanri in the lefs inhabited parts o^ North America': now almoft 



extirpated in the populous ; none found farther north than the moun- 

 tains near lake Champlain * : but in the fouth infeft South America, 

 even as far as Brafil -j-. Love woods and lofty hUIs, efpecially where 

 the ftrata are rocky or chalky : the pafs near Niagara abounds with 

 them. Being (low of motion, they frequent the fides of rills, to make 

 prey of frogs, or of fuch animals that refbrt there to quench their thirft : 

 are generally found during fummer in pairs : in winter, colleft in mul- 

 titudes, and retire beneath ground, beyond the reach of froft : tempted 

 by the warmth of a fpring day, they are often obferved to creep out 

 weak and languid : a perfon has feen a piece of ground covered with 

 them, and killed with a rod between fixty and feventy j till, over- 

 powered with the ftench, he was obliged to retire. 



They couple in Augujt, and then are mod dangerous : are vivipa- 

 rous, and bring forth, in June, about twelve young ones : between that 

 and September they acquire the length of a foot. 



Providence hath given mankind a fecurity againft the bite of thefe. 

 dreadful reptiles j for it does not often fail warning the paflenger of its. 

 vicinity, by the rattle of its tail. In fine weather that monition is al- 

 ways given, in wet weather feldom, which gives the Indians a dread o£ 

 travelling amidft the woods in rainy feafons. 



It moves along with the head on the ground ; but if alarmed, it. 

 flings its body into a circle, coiling itfelf with the head in the centre 

 ereft, and with the eyes flaming in a moft.terrific manner. Happily it 

 may be eafily avoided : it is flow in purfuit, and has not the power of 

 fpringing at its aflfailant, like many of the innocent tribe.. 



It is difficult to fpeak of its fafcinating powers : authors J of credit: 

 defcribe the efFefts. Birds have been feen to drop into its mouth, 

 fquirrels defcend from their trees, and leverets run into its jaws, 



• JsTa/ot's Travels, iii. 48. f Marcgra've, 240. 



J Laivfon—Catejby — Ph. Tr. abridg. ix. 56, &c. vii. /^lO.-<—Briikel's Hiji. Carolina^ 

 l^^.—Si'verhj Firgi/iia, 260.— Co/den, i. 12. 



4 Terror 



