266 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[May !!, IMXl 



Si \Y biterurnped Shrike — Lrmiw HUovteiamiit. vnr. 

 • a ubUgroutM (Sw,) Ooues.— This species breeds in Dakota 

 ant] probsoh in Nebraska, 



35, American Goldfinch.— AoiniiiiiHiinn 1/)<i&1/U Cah Resi 

 Breeds in June and July, Seott ill small, scattering 

 Bocks in winter, feeding upon seeds and buds. 



SB, Bnow Bunting— /-'/,, ii,,/,/,,,,!,- mViiU*{[..) Meyer.— A 

 regular Winter visitant. Arrives from the north in large, 

 wring Honks in company with Laplaiud longspun 



21 Lapland Long ipui G?H& tow /ojUjuw«*»«(L.)Kttup.. 



A regular migrant. Saw thousands in cornfields in April. 

 • Nunc situ alter May llj. 



*^-- S8i i 'host nut -collared Longspur— d ntmphitnw ornatns 

 Call. — Arrive? from the south in large flocks, scattering 

 over the entire country. Tlioy btb tic most restless and tke 

 mosl djiiQcult birds to shoot [ever saw. No sooner. do tliey 

 nliuht upon the ground than tliey lire up and oil, flying in a 

 zig-zag manner, uttering a sharp squeaking note, I shot 

 nearly all or my specimens on tlie wing, it being almost Im- 

 possible toseetlicra on the ground. Nearly all the birds 

 taken were moulting about tbe head and neck. They ar- 

 rived from tin south during the flrst week in April, 



till. lyteOoWO'R Longspur — HJiUnfhiiphoiirn imimiinil. Ril. 

 — Common migrant. Saw them.in fn)l song in May. The 



tiesl way to sh rds is !o watch them at the river. 



Hnndie'ds of llieni eome oil' the prairie every day to drink 

 and bathe, no that I killed twenty-two of them at a single 

 discharge with ' .<)/.. dust shot. They are very pugnacious 

 Utile fellows, lighting among themselves like our English 

 sparrows (P.. damvtiwit). I iium- ofu-ii gees them chasing 

 the horned lurk. 



30. Baird's Sparrow— -Pttmrcuita biivrii (A.ud ; ) OoueB,— 

 A regular migrant. But one specimen was taken, late in 

 Way. Jl may be more abundant in .June, like 0, hicolor. 



which is rare in May. but common hi June. This species 



)"' I-. in Dakota and prohaly in .Nebraska. 



i i inna Sparrow — Vassrvi'ultis mutil»4<lhftuil Ridg, — 

 ArdvCfl the lasl ,\eek in March, anil are quite abundant dur- 

 ing migration, The first specimen I shot 1 took for P. hairdi, 

 but. on comparing Ihe two species 1 found differences. /'. 

 is a trifle larger and is stouter built : the plumage is 

 lighter. ThCJ are hard to distinguish at a distance. 



38, Baywiiig Bunting— Poaxettm mtminsu* Bd.— Breeds 

 Upon i he ground. Arrives early in May. Abundant. 



38. Yellow-wiug Sparrow— C'titiiniiiuthi* piix.srrinnx Bp. — 

 i inn ilaiit everywhere in open prairies, and is a great sins 

 in il- Inimble way. Its song sounds more like the rquenkl 



1 r e -hopper than Hint of a bird. It flies but a short 



iijstniioc, when it plunges or tumbles headlong into the g 

 i : i. '.. .■ shot, 



recontd's BpaiTOW— (Muni'i-ulii* h,u>,if-i' Aud.— Be- 

 comes sparrow is apparently rare in this locality. But two 

 Specimens wen taken in May. Its manners are the same as 

 those of the preceding; flight rather feeble. Hying but ushcrt 

 distance, wheiwt drops into the grass like a stone. I think 

 they breed here. 1 saw one, which I shot, hopping about in 



btlShCS near the river. The second was shot as he 



lopped Ihe grass. 



35. Lincoln's Sparrow — Afi loxpiza linctilui And. — A com- 

 m 'ii migrant, known by Its streaked breast and absenceof 

 lai u center spot. 



:1G. Common Snowbird — Junto JiyemaMs SeL — A regular 

 migrant Erem the north ; saw them only along wooded si reams. 



!!7. Oregon Snowbird — Junni hyr„wU* <>r><ji~»inx (Towns.) 

 i a. -Nut so common as preceding; easily distinguished 

 from foregoing by the chestnut patch on back and tinged 

 on sides with pink. 



38. i liiy-eolored Sparrow — 3wzqV.<X pallida (Sw.) Bp. — An 

 tthiindanl migrant, breeding in lOakola. 



39. While-crowned Sparrow — ZonolrMiia hvcophri/n 

 i r'orst I JJw. — A regular migrant. But few were seen. 'as 

 Ibis species do not tarry long before leaving for their north- 

 ern breed in!.' place) arrives from the south in May. 



40. Lark Finch— GtondeMm fframmim (Say.) Bp.— Abun- 

 dant ; brood*. This species is easily identified by their long 

 (ail, two outer lea I hers of which are wdiite, which show 

 very distinctly when the birds are On the wing. In Dr. J, 

 M Wheaton's "Birds of Ohio." he says: "This species is 

 unknown in Northern Ohio." 1 saw a pair here (in Ohio) 

 June -jf,, lssi, dusting themselves in tke road. A nest was 

 found within one and a half miles of Lake Brie, in 1880, by 

 a young oologist. I also obtained two specimens in the 

 flesh from W r . II. Collins, a, taxidermist, of Detroit, Mich., 



ays that they are not uncommon in that vicinity. 



■II Lark Bunting — Caliiinusphu hknUir (Towns.)* Bp. — 

 This species arrives the last week in Mav. and is very wary 

 and difficult to shoot. The male arrives in advance of the 

 lennile. Nidifle.ntiou commences in June, and Ihe nest is 

 placed upon the ground. The eggs plain green. I was un- 

 able to remain to study their habits, which somewhat resem- 

 ble those of ihe bobolink. 



i; Blaclt-tliroatod Bunting— SJiai mimkam Gin.— 

 1 tnel this species on the lowlands of tke Loup "Biver only. 

 Where they breed. They were very abundant here, singing 

 upon every Weed. 



13. t 'o'mmoii Towbec. Chewiiik — JHptlot iijlhmphtlmlwitx 

 V— Not uncommon; frequents thick underbrush, breeding 

 in brush heaps And upon the ground. 



•II. Arctic Towliee — Pipito macuUttus m>ct£eui (Sw.) 

 Cones. — in company with preceding. Identified by con 

 spioiious while tines lengthwise of back. 



45. Bobolink — DolMwny* oripieornts Sw.— Abundant, 



Bed* upon ground ill nigh glass, 



•10. Cowuird— MohOmn nl<r Uray.— Common. Deposits 

 il-i«- in the nesi of other birds smaller than itself, ex- 

 c.-pt the chewink. The yellowbird ( (,'. Iri:.li:<) completely 



outgenerals this hird by building a nest directly over its 

 , ;■ ■. . forming n double nest, or a nest in a neat, tine of this 

 description is in the Kinhnid Museum, at Cleveland, Ohio. 



i;. Redwing Blackbird— Ayalanit phtmd&Mii V— Arrives 

 in April in company with vellowlieads. Breeds, 



48. Yellow-headed Blackbird Xtmffiocephalutt iottiroce- 



plMlilB Bd. Abundant; breeds. A very be.iui.il ul bird with 



lil vcllow head. Females are smaller, no larger than a 



eowbiiVl, and are plain brown, and are called buffalo birds 



Ity the residents, as they are often seen around cattle. 



4a, Meadow Lark— &vrnem «mm fttglteta Ridg.— 



Aliiindant; breeds. SODH different from Eastern represen- 

 lalive; not so harsh, more of a warble and very pleasing to 

 the car. Plumage has a pale, faded appearance. 



50 Baltimore Oriole — klrritx t/atoula Coues. —Abundant. 

 Breeds in ihe bill eottonwood; nest suspended from an 

 ., i i branch. 



51. Busty Graeklc— &o!i-ro/>/<ti</Ux femiffilieui (Cm.! Sw. 

 —A ccnonon migrant. Does no! tarry long before leaving 

 for its northern "breeding place; arrives in small Hocks in 

 1 1 [to be continued.] 



RATTLESNAKES. 



BY OTTO U.iC.oF.li. 



| Head before tin? Marylim,! \ea,l,'in.v (ft Seieuees. April 3, UJ63,'] 



ti r piTESE reptiles are found only in North and South 

 I America. Lake Champlain is about the most north- 

 ern point in Ihe eastern par! of the United State's where they 

 have been found, while in the western part of the continent 

 Ih.vlive,!- far north as Ihe British possessions, on both 

 sides ol the Rocky Mountains. They cannot exist in places 

 where Indian com wilt no! -thrive well. In the beginning 

 of the century thoy were so very numerous that two men. 

 who regularly hunted the rattlesnakes for their once highly 

 valued fat, killed in three days l.DH specimens. With the 

 advancing civilization, or, rather, with the increase in the 

 number of hogs, these snakes were soon exterminated in 

 most places. 



"Upward ol eighteen species, not eounliug Aiu-uttorfrii, 

 are described as inhabitants of the United Slates, nearly all 

 of which occur in the West and Southwest. Our rattle- 

 snakes fall in (wo genera — Cfrotalus and Qairdisonia — readily 

 distinguished by the scufellation of the head. In Ihe former 

 the lop of Ihe head is covered with a large number of small 

 asymmetrical scales like those or. the body; in the latter the 

 same region is shielded by a definite small number of large 

 Hat plat'es symmetrically disposed. The Maryland rattle- 

 snake is a widely-dispersed species of Eastern North Am- 

 erica, the only other species of the same portion of the con- 

 tinent being the diamond rattlesnake, ot the South Atlantic 

 and Gulf Stales. The best-known species of the genus (_•„„. 

 ilimmin is the common massassauga, of the interior Stales and 

 Of Ihe plains. Texas. New Mexico and Arizona furnish the 

 largest number of spedi 



"The ascribed characters of our rattlesnake are found not 

 to hold good when sufficient, series are examined. Certain 

 ascribed features of coloration are altogether uncertain, as 

 specimens vary interminably in the distinctness of the dor- 

 sal blotches and in the details of the markings. This au- 

 pears to be due in part to ag-e, as the smaller snakes are 

 usually the most boldly blotched, while On some of the 

 largest Ihe marking are nearly obsolete. The distinctness of 

 the pattern of coloration also depends somewhat upon season, 

 the markinas being clearest just al'lcr the shedding of the 

 skin. But whatevei the markings, the general color of the 

 snake always corresponds with the general color of the sur- 

 souudings. Snakes from the red sandstones of the Blue 

 Ridge Mountains possess that color; those from Oakland 

 and vicinity are grayer, and one snake, found upon white 

 sand near Oraneberry Summit, was called in that delightful 

 village 'the great Albino snake of the mountains.' 



"The average length of our rattlesnake is less than three 

 feet, and the caliber of the hod y, even in the largest examples, 

 is relatively interior to that of the severafyTestern and 

 Southern species. As in the case of other species, there is a 

 regular annual, or, perhaps, as in some other ophidians aud 

 as in saurians, a more frequent casting of the skin. During 

 the moult they are reported to be specially venomous, but 

 probably upon no other foundation than that at this time 

 their sluggishness results in the accumulation of a large 

 supply of the poisonous fluid. 



"The rattle is evidently a modification of the upper skin, 

 and is very likely nothing but a row of transformed scales. 

 But nothing is really known about this matter. How the 

 rattles are formed and how they grow is a mystery. Some 

 have asserted that these rattli s were a continuation of the 

 vcrlebKC of the tail. Rattlesnakes that have been kept f 

 many years in captivity showed an increase in size, sloughed 

 frequently, but never produced an additional button to the 

 rattle, which proves the fallacy of the generally-entertained 

 idea that the snake, with every new moult, added one more 

 button. The snake does not possess any rattle at all until it 

 is several years old, and fifteen or eighteen jointed rattles are 

 about as many as have e;er been found. Rattles that contain 

 mine are, upon closer examination, usually found to be 

 clever combinations of two to more tail ornaments. The 

 number of rattles, though, of course, increasing with age, it 

 not an infallible clue to the age of a specimen, it is fai 

 from proven that the annual increase by one is regular. Oi: 

 the contrary, the growth of the organ must depend largely, 

 as in all parallel cases, upon the vigor of the reptile, wbicl 

 is not the same at all periods of life, granting even a contin 

 nous state of perfect health. The purpose- subserved in I hi 

 economy of the suake by this singular organ has been the 

 subject of much speculation and discussion. It .is difficult 

 to perceive of wind use the ratlle can he, either in proem 

 prey or avoiding enemies. We do not know that it co 

 into play at all in the pursuit of prey, while the actual 

 result oi' its use as a menace in self-defense is the re- 

 verse of beneficial to the serpen!, since the sound serves 

 to direct and provoke attack from all enemies which the 

 animal has good reason to fear. The theory that the rattle 

 is a part of the serpent's means of terrifying its intended 

 victim, used as an adjunct of other supposed powers of fas- 

 cinalion. mav be safely held in check until it is proven that 

 this peculiar influence ifi ever exeried to the extent of pre- 

 ventiiiL' its prey frem seekiriL' safety in flight. The notion 

 that Ihe ratlle 'is intended l"o seiv'cas a warning, aud th 

 Offset the venomous nature and highly dangerous powers of 

 the serpent, is contrary to all analogy; since animals are en- 

 dowed with attributes for their own good, irrespective of 

 the result upon others, aud would require a faith in the in- 

 tervention, for the benefit of the dominant species of the 

 mammalia, of special Providence— a belief now held by few 

 thoughtful persons. It has been suggested that the rattle 

 may be used to call the Bexes together, and thus serve a use- 

 ful purpose in tin perpetual icn it the spurts— au 1:\ pothens 

 less untenable than some of the others which have been ad- 

 vanced. Another supposition, made irrespective of 'final 

 causes.' is that the rattle has resulted, in the course of time, 

 from the continual agitation of the caudal extremity of these 

 highly nervous and "irritable creatures, and lhat it has no 

 [unction. This seems not unreasonable, although in view 

 of the fact that rattlesnakes alone, of the many equally or 

 more venomous reptiles, have such appendage, but it is not 

 entirely satisfactory. One thoroughly established fact con- 

 cerning the rattle is that its practical" operation is injurious 

 to its possessor by provoking attack from those who can 

 cope with it successfully. It may be suggested that, inas- 

 much as to an unpractical ear the rattle, of this snake can- 

 not be distinguished from the trepidation of some large 

 grasshoppers, it may serve Ihe purpose of al tract ing wilhin 

 reach of the fangs of the snake the many birds who greedily 

 devour these insects. But even this would be of very little 

 benetil to his snakeship, since it is nocturnal in its habits. 

 The rattle has been heard at times when no apparent cause 

 of irritation to the snake existed, and a case lias been re- 



ported in which a biped was drawn within reach of a i.Hil er. 

 thinking it a grasshopper. 



Rattlesnakes prefer localities where rocky and sunny 

 ies and mounds abound, surrounded by" valleys full 

 of springs and creeks, meadows, etc., aid whicli arc 

 overgrown by low bushes and herbs. Being very much 

 affected by the temperature, the snakes change their resting 

 place during the day almost every hour. If the morning is 

 clear aud warm, the snake bathes itself in the dew. and 

 afterwards selects a quiet place in a smooth road, or upon a 

 Hat stone, to sun and dry itself; later, toward noon, the 

 snake frequents dry and shady places that aie not too far 

 from a sunny spot. If no dew fell during several nighls. 

 the snake moves toward the banks or creeks or blinks of 

 ings. but never enters the water itself, except when 

 sing Us pr, y dm ing the night. Rain is very unpleasant 

 these inn on. repiiles, and makes them very sluggish. 

 Their lavoiite dwelling places are different, according to 

 localities. In unfrequented places they live socially in so- 

 called rattlesnake dens; in populated places the solitary 

 snake finds a shelter under rocks, in hollow logs, in holes 

 made bv other animals, like that of the ground-Squirro). 

 While collecting along the bases of Ihe banks and bluffs of 

 l he Mississippi River, in Illinois, I saw frequently the heads 

 of rattlesnakes sticking out of the enlarged holes of the cliff 

 swallows, "Whose nests afforded them a snug and safe retreat. 

 Near the farm-houses they are found seldom in large num- 

 bers, excepting during their love season; here they live in 

 cracks of rocks, in old stone walls and under out-h'ouses. iu 

 hollow trees and under flat stones, in wood-piles, under 

 dwelling-houses, in rat-holes, and sometimes under the bed 

 iiself, as I had the pleasure of finding out once in Michigan. 

 Quite soothing to the feelings and conducive to sound 

 sleep. 



"Most observers describe the rattlesnake as a slow, slug- 

 gish and awkward animal, and Monsieur Beauvois even de- 

 clares that few snakes were as good-hearted as it. It is very 

 true that the rattlesnake never attacks animals, if not Want' 

 ing them as food; the snake never bites unless disturbed 

 aud scared, aud always rattles before biting. But this is 

 only true Of. the snake as seen by day, when in a dormant 

 condition. After dark, when fully awake and intent upon 

 catching food.it is an entirely different being. Rapidly 

 moving without so much bending as other snakes, astonish- 

 ing long distances are passed over in a short time; when 

 chasing a bird the velocity becomes simply wonderful; and 

 living mainly upon mice, ground-squirrels and birds. Ihe 

 snake stands in good need of such swiftness. In chasing its 

 prey even riveis are quickly crossed, Ihe snake inflating 

 itself for this purpose, and thus, floats like air-bubbles. 

 Frogs form a staple food. The smaller animals are usually 

 not bitten, but are swallowed in a similar way as by other 

 snakes. After a meal the resting place of a rattlesnake is 

 distinguished by a beastly odor. 



"The mating* season commences as soon as spring really 

 opens with steady, warm days. The snakes have now, after 

 their moult, fresh and brightly-colored skins. Males and 

 females collect on sandy, level "spots, usually near water, on 

 moonlight, nights, and lorm, often as many as twenty and 

 thirty together, a gordian knot of hideous npyearance.' The 

 head's stick from this twisting and rolling mass in all direc- 

 tions, with open mouths, glaring eyes, and hissing and 

 rattling. In this position the snakes remain for several days. 

 [he eggs are laid during the. month of Angus;, and the 

 young snakes leave them a few minutes later, not requiring 

 any more care from their mother. Mr. Oeyrr. who had the 

 opportunity to see the operation, relates the following: 

 •During the month of August, when approaching a deserted 

 Mormon dwelling in Missouri, 1 saw an old rattlesnake 

 crawling near the entrance of the cabin, and upon my ap- 

 proach it slowly crawled under the log forming the door- 

 step. Rolling the lot; away. 1 found about forty eggs, most 

 of them hatched', some hatching, ami several young snakes. 

 The eggs were the size of small pigeon eggs, and were of 

 pale cotor. Even the very small snakes are' ready to strike 

 and bite.' If the story is true that rattlesnakes protect their 

 young by swallowing "ihem iu case of danger, tbe mother- 

 snake lost here an excellent chance to show the modvs aper- 

 audi. Having once observed in Michigan the procedure of 

 ess-laving myself, I can add this: The snake is stretched 

 out at' full length, with an creci or slightly hent tail. Egg 

 after egg is squeezed out through the oval opening into 

 which the two oviducts end, and Ihe eggs doubtless are 

 [aid alternately from them, At first the body is uniformly 

 swollen. After laying Ihe first esg a second can be seen 

 moving, the body contracting behind it to push it along. 

 A few minutes' rest follows the deposit , if each. egg. During 

 this time the snake seems to be much less irritable than 

 usual. The moment an egg has been laid the active young 

 snake in it stretches iiself and forces itself through the thin 

 egg-shell. A small yolk-bag still adheres to the body, which 

 is. however, soon ruptured by the crawling of the young 

 snake. Wbick from the \er\ moment of seeing light i's per- 

 fectly able and willing to take care of itself. There stems 

 lobe' no love lost between parent and young. The size of 

 the young snake is about twenty-seven ceutinietres. Head, 

 scales, teeth and fangs are fully developed, but no rattle; 

 the skin, which is shed a few hours after birth, is very thin 

 and transparent, and it seems that the first action of" their 

 existence is to undergo a moult. Dr. Kinner, of St. Louis, 

 in killing a rattlesnake full of eggs, which were nearly 

 mature, opened one of them and found quite a lively young 

 snake iii it. Killing it, he ran a needle in the poison gland, 

 and with it he pricked a young sparrow; the bird sbowtd 

 symptoms of the poison at once, proving that these young 

 snakGS were already able to poison their prey, i he Indians 

 possess several remedies against the bile of the rattlesnake, 

 but it is more than doubtful whether the plants used serve 

 any other purpose than moderating the local inllammation. 

 Tlie roots of Aik1ob,chi,t nrrpadarin, Pnimiitlies MTpmtn- 

 riit; lii-hinada pdi-jinri'it, iSerotina // unpMitifoUa and luiy//- 

 gium cmiatkum arc dried, and, if to be used, are chewed 

 im.l applied. 



"The principal enemies of the rattlesnake, besides man, 

 are wild hogs, peccaries and deer. The latter kill the ser- 

 pent when ""coiled by striking with the hoofs; the former 

 attack it successfully with hoofs and teeth, aud in some 

 Western regions derive no small part of their subsistence 

 from this source. Tbe popular belief thai Hie venom of the 

 rattlesnake is innocuous to hogs is merely a partial state- 

 ment of the fact that the fluid usually fails to enter the cir- 

 culation through tlie layer of adipose tissue with which 

 these animals are commonly covered. The venom is con- 

 ceded to be innocuous when introduced to the stomach, and 

 the flesh of t lie rattlesnake is as edible as that of oth er ser- 

 pents. The fatality of the rattlesnake's bite is by no means 

 the constant element generally supposed, but Ihe result may 



