AMPHIBIA. 



The colour of the head of the Rattlesnake, is brown ; 

 the eye red ; the upper part of the body of a brownish 

 yellow, transversely marked with irregular broad black 

 lists ; the Rattle consisting of several horny membraneous 

 cells, is brown and of an undulated form ; the articulation 

 of these parts being very loose, makes them rattle against 

 each other when the reptile moves his tail, which he 

 always does when irritated. Yet unless provoked or in 

 pursuit of it's prey, the Rattlesnake must be considered 

 as a sluggish and inactive animal, and is never the aggressor 

 unless disturbed or assaulted. They make a deep wound 

 and inject a very considerable portion of venom, but the 

 poison if applied to the surface of the skin is said to be 

 quite harmless, unless the skin be broken ; and it seems 

 to have no effect internally upon the stomach, as the 

 Indians are in the constant habit of sucking the poison 

 from the wounds of themselves or others ; for this cir- 

 cumstance, we have the authority of Catesby and other 

 writers on natural history ; and it seems not improbable 

 that the human saliva or spittle may be a true and natu- 

 ral antidote for the poison of almost all venomous Snakes, 

 but which opinion however must lay open to farther 

 experiments and observations. It is a remarkable cir- 

 cumstance also that the bite of venomous snakes should 

 be fatal to themselves, which has been proved by experi- 

 ments when they have been provoked in a state of confine- 

 ment. The usual time of death ensuing after a person 

 has been bitten by a Rattlesnake is from two to fifteen 

 minutes ; this however is supposed to depend upon the 

 state of irritation of the animal at the time, and upon 

 the constitution of the patient ; there is reason to believe 

 that in a state of captivity, it's operation would be weaker, 

 as the Reptile is then generally considered as being out 

 of health. The unfortunate man who was bitten to death 

 lately in London, survived for 18 days, but in the greatest 

 agony and pain, the inflammation being carried on to 



