ASCRIBED TO THE RATTLE-SNAKE. JQ'J 



is freqaently, however, found about their roots, efpecially Fafls and ob- 



^ c . T-r-11 1- •!• r r fervations re- 



in wet htuations. It is laid that this reptile is often leen, fpefting the 



curled round a tree, darting terrible glances at a fquirrel, power of fafci- 

 which after fome time is fo much influenced by thefe glances, t'^^fnTkes^" ^ 

 or by fome fubtile emanation from the body of the ferpent, 

 that the poor animal falls into the jaws of its enemy. This 

 ftory is, I believe, defiitute of foundation, though it is related 

 by the good Cotton Mather *. The rattle-fnake is, indeed, 

 fometimes ken at the root of a tree, upon the lower branches 

 of which, at the height of a few feet from the ground, a bird 

 or fquirrel has been feen exhibiting fymptoms of fear and 

 diftrefs. Is this a matter of any wonder ? Nature has taught 

 different animals what animals are their enemies; and al- 

 though, as will be afterwards (hewn, the principal food of 

 the rattle-fnake is the great frog, yet as he occalionally devours 

 birds and fquirrels, to thefe animals he muft neceflarily be an 

 objeft of fear. When the reptile, therefore, lies at the foot 

 of a tree, the bird or the fquirrel will feel itfelf uneafy. That 

 k will fometimes run towards the ferjient, then retire, and 

 return again, I will not deny. But that it is irrefiftibly drawn 

 into the jaws of the ferpent, I do deny : becaufe it is very 

 frequently feen to drive the ferpent from its hold ; becaufe 

 the bird or fquirrel often returns, in a few minutes, to their 



willing to deny this Indian's ftory : yet it is oppofed to every in- 

 formation I have been able to procure from perfons well acquainted 

 with the reptile of which I am fpeaking. However, it is not im- 

 poflible that where trees and buflies grow very clofe together, the 

 fnake may climb thtni to a 'very f mall height. Mod fpecies of fer- 

 pents move in a fpiral manner : the rattle-fnake moves ftrait on j 

 and this is the reafon why he cannot climb trees. In the quotation 

 which I have made from Mr. de la Cepede, another miftake is in- 

 volved. He fpeaks of the agility with which the rattle-fnake moves. 

 This is not, however, merely the miftake of Mr. de la Cepede. 

 We find it in Pifo. Speaking of this reptile, our author fays : 

 " In triviis juxta ac deviis locis cernitui, tarn celeriter proreptans 

 ut volare videatur, idque velocius per locafaxofa, quam terreftria." 

 De India utriufque re naturali et jnedica. p. 274. Now the truth is 

 that the rattle-lhake is one of the moll fluggilh of all our ferpents. 

 Linnaeus was well informed, when he afl'erted that Providence had 

 given ** the Ciotalus a very (low motion." See RrJleSlions, Sec, 

 quoted p. 84 of this memoir. 

 * Pbdofophical Tranfaftions of the Royal Society, No. 33,9. 



habitations 



