CAROLINA GRAY SQUIRREL. 61 



been near enough to mark the angry expression of their eyes, and see 

 their well-concealed nest. 



Our readers will, we trust, excuse us for detaining them yet a little 

 longer on this subject, as we have more to say of the habits of the rattle- 

 snake, in connexion with the subject we are upon. 



This snake, the most venomous known in North America, subsists 

 wholly on animal food ; it digests its food slowly, and is able to exist 

 without any sustenance for months, or even years, in confinement ; during 

 this time it often increases in size, and the number of its rattles is aug- 

 mented. In its natural state it feeds on rabbits, squirrels, rats, birds, or 

 any other small animals that may come -in its way. It captures its prey 

 by lying in wait for it, and we have heard of an instance, in which one 

 of these snakes remained coiled up for two days before the mouth of the 

 burrow of the Florida rat, (Neotoma Floridana,) and on its being killed 

 it was found to have swallowed one of these quadrupeds. 



As far as we have been able to ascertain, it always strikes its intended 

 prey with its fangs, and thus kills it, before swallowing it. The bite is 

 sudden, and although the victim may run a few yards after it is struck, 

 the serpent easily finds it when dead. Generally the common species of 

 rattle-snake refuses all food when in a cage, but occasionally one is found 

 that does not refuse to eat whilst in captivity. When a rat is turned 

 loose in a cage with one of these snakes, it does not immediately kill 

 it, but often leaves it unmolested for days and weeks together. When, 

 however, the reptile, prompted either by irritation or hunger, designs to 

 kill the animal, it lies in wait for it, cat-like, or gently crawls up to it, 

 and suddenly gives it the mortal blow, after which, it very slowly and de- 

 liberately turns it over into a proper position, and finally swallows it. 



We have seen a rattle-snake, in a very large cage, using every means 

 within its power, and exerting its cunning, for a whole month, before it 

 could succeed in capturing a browTi thrush, that was imprisoned with it. 

 At night the bird roosted beyond the reach of the snake, and during the 

 day-time it was too cautious in its movements, and too agile, snatching 

 up its food at intervals, and flying instantly back to its perch, to be struck 

 by the unwieldy serpent. We now added a mouse to the number of the 

 inmates of the cage ; the affrighted animal retreated to a corner, vi^here 

 the snake, slowly crawling up to it, with a sudden blow darted his fangs 

 into and killed it ; soon after which he swallowed it. About a week 

 after this adventure, the snake again resumed his attempts to capture the 

 thrush, and pursued it all round the cage. 



This experiment offered a fair opportunity for the rattle-snake to exert 

 its powers of fascination, had it possessed any : but as it did not exhibit 



