CHARMING A RATTLESNAKE. 79 



belong to, but never cultivated land if uncultivated can be found. The 

 shadow of an old fallen tree is often a lurking-place chosen by them. 

 Audubon, the celebrated ornithologist, says that he has often met 

 with rattlesnakes rolled up in a state of torpor when the temperature 

 was low. Rattlesnakes are revered by some of the American abori- 

 gines, who know how to lure them from their houses ; for it is a 

 singular fact that this terrible animal is not insensible to the sound of 

 music. Chateaubriand's remarks will be read with interest : — " In 

 the month of July, 1791," says this celebrated writer, "we were 

 travelling in upper Canada with some savage families of the Ounou- 

 tagnes. One day, when we had stopped in a plain on the banks of 

 the river Genedie, a rattlesnake entered our camp. We had a 

 Canadian amongst us who played on the flute ; wishing to amuse us, 

 he approached the animal with this new kind of weapon. At the 

 approach of his enemy, the splendid reptile at once coiled itself up 

 spirally, flattened its head, puffed out its cheeks, contracted its ears, 

 and showed its envenomed fangs, while its forked tongue moved 

 rapidly, and its eyes burned like red-hot coals • its body became 

 inflated with rage, rose and fell like a pair of bellows ; its dilated skin 

 bristled with scales ; and its tail, which produced a sinister sound, 

 oscillated with lightning rapidity. The Canadian now began to play 

 upon his flute. The snake made a movement expressive of surprise, 

 gradually drew its head backwards, closed its inflamed mouth, and, 

 as the musical sounds struck it, the eyes lost their sharpness, the 

 vibration of its tail relaxed, and the noise which it made became 

 weaker, and finally died away altogether ; the coiled-up line became 

 less perpendicular, the orbs of the changed snake opened, and in 

 their turn rested in wider concentric circles on the ground. The 

 scales of the skin were also lowered, and immediately recovered their 

 wonted brilliancy, and, turning its head slowly towards the musician, 

 it remained immovable in an attitude of pleased attention. At this 

 moment the Canadian walked away a few steps, drawing low and 

 monotonous tones from his flute ; the reptile lowered his neck, 

 opened a way among the fine grass with its head, and crawled in the 

 steps of the musician who thus fascinated him, stopping when he 

 stopped, and following him when he began to move away. The 

 snake was thus conducted from our camp in the midst of a 

 throng of spectators — as many Redskins as Europeans — who could 

 hardly believe their eyes." 



It is generally agreed that rattlesnakes only attack men in self- 

 defence, but it is at all times a dangerous neighbour, and it is im- 

 portant to know how to keep them at a distance in countries where 



