RATTLE-SNAKE. Oa\| 



American ferpents, that if they fix their fiery, glaring eyes 

 upon any animal, fuch as a fquinel, or a bird, within a certain 

 diflance, they entirely lofe the power of efcaping, but throw 

 Ihemfelves, flowly, irrefiftibly, into the extended jaws of 

 the fnake. And if any thigg difturbs the fnake, fo that it 

 withdraws its eyes but for one moment, they efcape with the 

 utmoft precipitation. 



We obferve (continues this learned na(uralift) fomething 

 fimiiar to this in our common, tardy, thick, and fat toads, 

 which frequently fit under little ftones and bulhes, having 

 their mouths wide open, into which flies, bees, and other 

 infeds, are drawn in the fame manner. All the theories 

 that have hitherto been offered to explain thefe appearances 

 appear to me both unnatural and improbable. Indeed, I can- 

 not but doubt the reality of the fadl itfelf, until we fhall re- 

 ceive further obfervations and difcoveries relative to it. 



J. C. Fabkicii, ^'c, 

 Befultate Natur-Hiftorifcher Vorkjungen, 

 p. 267, 268. Kid: 1804. 



It will be evident to any one, who has perufed, with at- Annotation by 

 lention, my two publications * on the fuppofed fafcinating '^' ^"^ *"''' 

 faculty of the rattle-fnake, and other American ferpents, that 

 Mr. Fabricius has by no means fully comprehended my pecu- 

 liar theory. I have not adopted the hypolhefis of the very 

 refpe6tabie Kalm, with whofe name mine is mentioned by 

 the Danifli ProfefTor. On the contrary, I have endeavoured 

 to fhow, and I flatter myfelf that I have very fatisfa6toriIy 

 Ihown, that there is no folid foundation for the vulgar, and 

 very generally-received opinion, that ferpents are endued 

 ■vvilh the faculty of fafcinating, or charming, other animals. 



B. S. B. 



The following very curious tradition of fomesf our Indians, Narrative 

 relative to ferpents, is worthy of publication in this place. 

 A part of the tradition has already been publLHied in my 



* A Memoir concerning the Fafcinating Faculty which has been 

 afcribed to the. Rattle-fnake, and other American Serpents. Phi- 

 ladelphia : 1796. — Supplement to a Memoir, Sec. Philadelphia, 

 J 8G0.-Or fee Philof. Journal, Vols. VII. and VIII. 



Supplement 



