190 The Golondrina Plant. 



THE GOLONDRINA PLANT, 



(From the San Diego Union, revised by the author.) 



The rattlesnake is the most abundant and the most dreaded of 

 the venomous reptiles of the United States. The Pacific coast is 

 free from any other variety of known poisonous serpents, but sev- 

 eral varieties of the rattlesnake abound in sufficient numbers to 

 make up for the lack of variety otherwise. 



Our most venomous and ugly species is the black rattlesnake, 

 (Crotalus lucifer) found near the coast, from Oregon to Lower 

 California, smaller in size than the more common yellow rattler. It 

 is usually found in grassy valleys or canyons, and though smaller in 

 size is. much livelier than the other form and not inclined to bear 

 insults without showing fight. 



The yellow rattler, or diamond-back, as it is sometimes called, 

 (Crotalus enyo) is much larger, often five, more rarely six feet in 

 length, sluggish, and not inclined to fight if it can avoid conflict, 

 except at certain seasons when it also, is very pugnacious. 



In April it is sometimes inclined to attack one, and will not 

 readily run from you, but by June it shows a desire to escape — prob- 

 ably because it is blind and knows itself to be at a disadvantage. 

 Some say it is then more dangerous, as it will strike without warn- 

 ing, which is probably true if it is disturbed. But the current belief 

 that the rattlesnake will always give warning is a dangerous pop- 

 ular fallacy, as such is not the case. It will rattle and strike simul- 

 taneously, and often will await your near approach before giving 

 warning- I will give a case to illustrate this point. In May, 1886, 

 near San Quintin bay, I started to climb a steep bank to reach a 

 certain plant growing above me. Just beside it was a large yellow- 

 rattler, coiled ready to strike and waiting for its probably expected 

 pre3^. As I approached it made no motion, but the strong magnetic 

 influence of its eye, as it wickedly watched my approach, caused me 

 to look up just in season, when my head was nearly on a level with 

 its own, and to step back out of danger. Still it did not rattle 

 until a pistol shot gave it its quietus. 



In June, 1889, while shaking the seed from the "bush into a pan, 

 held near the ground ana!, under the bush, I had the pleasure of see- 

 ing a large yellow rattler quietly move from under the bush out of 

 my way, without giving any indication of its presence beforehand. 

 Probably my movement of the bush above it had slightly disturbed 

 the good-natured fellow without arousing his resentment. 



Another slim and exceedingly lively rattler, with alternate rings 

 of black and white, is found in our mountains, bordering the desert. 



