18 Scientific Society of San Antonio. 



of its rattles and the consequent shock upon the nervous system 

 and heart-centers, is liable to produce serious consequences, and 

 even death. When a rattler strikes, its fangs are put in a much 

 more erect position than is seen in the photo of a rattlesnake 

 head with partly opened mouth, and at the same time the lower 

 jaw is relaxed and hangs down so that the rattler can strike 

 its fangs even into a curved or flat surface; for instance, the 

 palm of a hand. My attention was called to this fact, through 

 correspondence, by W. J. E. Kay, a prominent lawyer of Gra- 

 ham, Young county, Texas, who has had considerable personal 

 -experience with the venom apparatus of the rattlesnake. 



In the fall, from September to November, the rattlesnake is 

 encountered oftener, and when it is considered most danger- 

 ous, because during this season the reptile is more active in 

 seeking its food for its long winter sleep — which it generally 

 performs in deep holes or cracks under the ground or in 

 hollow trees, especially such as are close to the ground, and the)' 

 prey upon and devour an astonishing number of prairie rats 

 and mice and birds — even the large chaparral cock, and also 

 rabbits, with preference for prairie rats and cotton-tail rabbits. 

 Where plenty of quail and wild doves abound, the hunter, and 

 especially the younger generation of hunters, must always be on 

 the lookout, lest he may step, in some weedy or bushy place, 

 or along a cow trail, on such a reptile, or be alarmingly 

 scared through the sudden encounter and the blood- 

 curdling rattle. The experienced hunter is generally 

 prepared for such an encounter, and he rarely gets alarmed, be- 

 cause a quick shot rarely allows the reptile time to strike, and 

 its jumping capacity is rather limited, and under no circum- 

 stances, if there be the least chance to kill such a snake, should 

 it be allowed to escape. In my younger years I killed some of 

 these beasts with an ordinary stick or with a buggy whip. 



Luckily, Texas has been greatly cleared of venomous reptiles 

 and obnoxious varmints of all sorts during late years, due to the 

 rapid upbuilding of its vast territory of over 274,000 square 

 miles, and also to its many hunters with modern guns, 

 to animals of prey, and also and in particular to professional 

 snake hunters who sell the snakes to reptile dealers. Vast num- 

 bers have thus been made harmless, which otherwise would have 

 roamed about and multiplied immensely. Local reptile dealers 



