Reptiles, 3671 



an earnest purpose to try the efficacy of a reputed remedy ; and, that 

 failing, in the hope to obtain such information as to the nature of the 

 venom and its mode of operation, as might extend our knowledge of 

 animal poisons, and possibly suggest the means of counteracting their 

 effect, whenever occasion for so doing might unhappily arise. It is 

 hoped and believed that the following notes will not be read without 

 profit by the philosophic as well as the general reader. 



The experiments took place on the 8th of July, in the presence of 

 Dr. Quain, Mr. Mitchell, Mr. Squire, Mr. Wyatt, and myself. The 

 animals experimented on were rabbits, guinea-pigs, and sparrows ; 

 and the serpents to whom they were offered were rattlesnakes, cobras, 

 and puff-adders. The cobras, though tempted with birds, remained 

 passive, and could not be provoked to bite. As some general charac- 

 teristics appertain to all the experiments, it may be well, before enter- 

 ing upon the notes of each particular case, to throw them together 

 and lay them before the reader at once. First, then, upon the intro- 

 duction of an animal into their cage, the serpents became greatly agi- 

 tated, raising themselves, and moving with a quick angular motion 

 into attitudes of defence — sometimes, indeed, showing fear, evidenced 

 by retreat into the tank containing water below the level of their cage. 

 This, however, soon subsided, and one of the group, as if by general 

 consent, was left watching the prey and showing a purpose to strike 

 it. The others coiled themselves up, and thereafter showed the im- 

 mobility for which reptiles are remarkable, both puff-adders and rat- 

 tlesnakes permitting the rabbits and guinea-pigs to walk over them 

 with impunity. The attitudes and movements of the serpent intend- 

 ing to bite were very striking and beautiful. In the first place, he 

 made, with the posterior half of the body, a bold curve, having a strong 

 prehensile "purchase" on the floor of the cage, so as to secure a steady 

 fulcrum for the rapid dart made at the time of the bite. The upper 

 half of the body was raised some ten inches or a foot, the neck strongly 

 arched, and the head, bent at nearly right angles with the neck, was 

 poised directly opposite the prey. In such position the serpent re- 

 mained a greater or lesser time (sometimes as long as twenty minutes) 

 according to circumstances. During this interval, the slightest mo- 

 tion of the animal before him was followed by an instantaneous and 

 corresponding movement of the head and neck of the serpent. The 

 purpose seemed to be that of aim-taking, for the eyes were intently 

 fixed upon the prey ; but I am by no means sure that the snake, know- 

 ing that the latter cannot escape him, does not derive pleasure from 

 this prolonged and intent gaze. At all events, in one experiment, 



