102 MEANING OF THE BATTLING. 



came a shrill, high-pitched humming, which told of swifter vibration than 

 even the buzzing had showed. Surely a snake was never more excited 

 since the world began ! But speedily this became feeble, intermittent, 

 and soon ceased altogether, so that I concluded my shots had finally 

 reached him with fatal effect. 



That the rattling of the crotali answers the purpose of a call, we 

 know from the fact, recorded in many places, that other rattlesnakes 

 quickly respond and hasten towards the one ringing his alarum. More- 

 over, in the latter part of the summer the snakes sometimes make the 

 sound loudly and long, when they have no apparent reason to be alarmed, 

 but, by the argument from analogy, can reasonably be supposed to be 

 calling the opposite sex. That the rattling of one serpent in captivity 

 has an immediate effect upon other crotali within hearing is constantly 

 observed ; and in the cases where the young have been seen to run into 

 the mouth of an old one for protection, they appear to have been sum- 

 moned and informed of their danger by this signal. The instant the 

 snake suspects danger it throws itself into the coil of vantage and sounds 

 its long roll, varying the swiftness of the vibration and the consequent 

 loudness of its note as its apprehensions increase or diminish. The noise 

 itself may not be instinctively fear-inspiring, nor, perhaps, is the growling 

 of a lion, but in each. case experience has taught men and the large quad- 

 rupeds that that growl and this rattle mean not only a willingness to de- 

 fend, but the certain ability to do deadly harm. This menacing message, 

 clicked from the vibrating tail, has caused many a man to turn back and 

 give the snake a chance to escape, and at the same time it has been a 

 warning to all other crotali within hearing to prepare for battle or seek 

 safety in flight. 



Though man and his hogs* are now the worst enemies of the rattle- 

 snake, he has various others, principally colubrine serpents, who delight 

 in chasing and killing him. Of these the chief examples are the black- 

 snake and blue racer (or "pilot") in the North, several western species, 

 and the king-snake of the South. Leaping upon the fleeing and demor- 

 alized rattler, they seize his neck in their teeth, and quick as thought 

 wrap their folds about him with crushing power. 



The king -snake enjoys protection at the South, because of this 

 championship, against the noxious rattler, in which, however, he is by no 



* It is generally believed that the hog is safe from the poison of the rattlesnake. This 

 is so only because his thick skin and layers of fat prevent the venom in the majority of 

 cases from reaching his circulation. Swine are fond of flesh, and greedily devour the 

 snakes they are so quick to kill by stamping. 



