94 ANNUAL SLOUGHING OF THE SKIN. 



island in Pyramid Lake, Nevada, where, during the warm months, "it is 

 absolutely dangerous to walk about those parts of the island where they 

 are colonized ;" or, at any rate, it was so a few years ago, according to a 

 government report. 



This animal is easily killed or disabled, however, and has in man an 

 implacable enemy, not only directly but in marly indirect ways; yet there 

 are few localities favorable to him where he has been exterminated. You 

 can find rattlesnakes in plenty, for example, within five miles of the cen- 

 tre of New Haven. It is doubtful if any of the several species will ever 

 suffer extinction. 



Scales being undistensible, and never falling out to be replaced, like 

 hair and feathers (with which they have no homology), serpents get room 

 for growth and renew their coats by periodically sloughing off tlie entire 

 skin, underneath which a new external skin has formed and separated 

 itself from the now faded and husky cuticle. The process occurs during 

 August in the adult, two or three changes happening in a single sum- 

 mer with youngsters, who outgrow their vestments very speedily. It is 

 a popular idea that this midsummer sloughing occupies a considerable 

 period, during which the serpents are harmless because blind. It is quite 

 supposable that this might be so, since the outer layer of the cornea of 

 the eye peels off with the slough, and during the few preceding days the 

 eye has a dim and filmy appearance. But captive snakes, given active 

 mice at this time, attacked them without hesitation or missing. After 

 the moult the eye gleams bright and cold like a jewel, but with a sul- 

 len, ferocious, and relentless expression, for it is overhung by the bony 

 pent-house of the broad, strong, superorbital bones that give a fulcrum 

 for the powerful muscles of the jaws. This cruel eye and its fixed 

 stare introduces the once vexing question of fascination ; but before 

 discussing it, some account of the food and feeding habits of our subject 

 will be well. 



The disposition of the whole family is sluggish, and opposed to any 

 active movement, even in taking prey, beyond the one lightning-swift 

 blow that smites it down — so startling a contrast to the ordinary lethargy ! 

 The moccasin, to be sure, is somewhat an exception, since he is a good 

 swimmer and chases in their element frogs, smaller water-snakes, tadpoles, 

 and the less agile fishes, like the cat-fish. 



The most rapid exertions of rattlesnakes are aroused in fleeing from 

 danger; yet, when doing their best on open ground, their pace can easily 

 be equalled by a child, without running, as I have seen on the plains, so 

 that a blacksnake or a Ewtania could not only overtake, but circle round 



