1879. | Zoology. 583 
side over an arc of about three-fourths of an inch, moving so 
rapidly as to appear like a dull fan-like glimmer. In every 
instance observed the tail was raised but little above the horizon- 
tal, and the buzzing sound was continuous through a few seconds 
nly. 
Is this to be called an example of“ mimicry”? May it be 
said that far back in the past some sagacious ancestor witnessing 
that act of intimidation on the part of the rattlesnake, and 
observing how successful it was, resolved to adopt the practice 
itself; and thus, through inheritance, the practice became en- 
grafted upon this species? If so, that ancestor, it would seem, 
must have possessed a keenness of perception, an accuracy of 
judgment and a depth of reasoning human-like in a high degree, 
and far above what is usually recognized among the members o 
its class. : 
If the fact under consideration is not an example of “ mimicry,” 
may it be said that some ancestor in one of its battles accidentally 
moved its tail from side to side so rapidly as to produce a strange 
buzzing sound that frightened its antagonist away; that that 
snake possessed the sagacity to connect the flight of its enemy 
and the buzzing sound with the rapid motions of its tail; and 
that by continued repetition of this feat in subsequent battles, 
there were wrought structural and mental changes sufficiently 
fixed to be inherited ? 
If all this be granted, and it is very unsatisfactory reasoning to 
me, we have possibly a clew to the beginning of differentiation in 
the tail of the rattlesnake. 
There can be but little doubt but that the specimen under con- 
sideration is the fox snake, Coluber vulpinus, although I have at 
hand only the abbreviated description found in Jordan’s “ Manual 
T Vertebrate Animals.” —F. H. King, River Falls, Wis., May 26, 
1679. 
Of-season, and it would seem as if it but needed the concurrence 
of retardation in the two sexes, and their coming together, in 
order to change the breeding habits of the species. What is 
curious, if a general fact, the instinct of propagation in these 
habits of life. Normally, during the breeding season, these sal- 
mon seek the rapid streams, but these spring fish, filled with 
Spawn, are found in the waters of the lake along with others of 
their species. In order to give directness to this statement we 
would state that, for one instance, on June 2d we took from the 
