FASCINATING A SNAKE. 85 



state of torpor when tlie temperature was low. Rattlesnakes are 

 revered by some of the American natives, who know how to lure 

 them from their houses without killinsr them ; for it is a siuarular 

 fact that this terrible animal is not insensible to the sound of 

 music. Chateaubriand's remarks will be read with interest : "In 

 the month of July, 1791," says this celebrated writer, " we were 

 travelling in Upper Canada with some savage families of the 

 Ounoutagnes. One daj^, when we had stopped in a plain on the 

 banks of the river Genedie, a Rattlesnake entered our camp. We 

 had a Canadian amongst us who played on the flute ; wishing to 

 amuse us, he approached the animal with this new kind of weapon. 

 At the approach of his enemy, the splendid reptile at once coiled 

 itself up spirally, flattened its head, puffed out its cheeks, con- 

 tracted its ears, and showed its envenomed fangs, while its forked 

 tongue moved rapidly, and its eyes burned like; red-hot coals ; its 

 body became inflated with rage, rose and fell like a pair of bellows ; 

 its dilated skin bristled with scales ; and its tail, which produced a 

 sinister sound, oscillated with lightning rapidity. The Canadian 

 now began to play upon his flute. The Snake made a movement 

 expressive of surprise, gradually drew its head backwards, closed 

 its inflamed mouth, and, as the musical sounds struck it, the eyes 

 lost their sharpness, the vibration of its tail relaxed, and the noise 

 which it made became weaker, and finally died away altogether ; 

 the coiled- up line became less perpendicular, the orbs of the changed 

 Snake opened, and in their turn rested in wider concentric circles 

 on the ground. The scales of the skin were also lowered, and 

 immediately recovered their wonted brilliancy, and, turning 

 its head slowly towards the musician, it remained immovable in an 

 attitude of pleased attention. At this moment the Canadian 

 walked away a few steins, drawing low and monotonous tones from 

 his flute ; the reptile lowered his neck, opened a way among the 

 fine grass with its head, and crawled in the steps of the musician 

 who thus fascinated him, stopping when he stopped and following 

 him when he began to move away. The Snake was thus con- 

 ducted from our camp in the midst of a throng of spectators — as 

 many Red-skins as Europeans — who could hardly believe their 

 eyes." 



It is generally agreed that Rattlesnakes only attack Men in self- 



