HEPTILES 



pent, an^ that their cries, and apparent agonies, 

 are the effects of the poison: but Dr. Barton rejects 

 this explanation, because, among other reasons, the 

 animal has often survived, after having been sub- 

 jected to fascination, when the serpent had been 

 seasonably frightened away ; and because other 

 snakes, said to possess the power of fascinating, arc 

 not venomous, as the black snake. He also shows, 

 that Professor Blumenbach's opinion is erroneous, viz. 

 that the fascinating power is owing to the steadfast 

 looks, and to the hissing noise of the rattles of thq 

 snake, by which he entices the birds, Sec. to follow 

 him; for that serpents without rattles, are equally 

 successful as the rattle-snake. The most probable 

 explanation of the mystery, according to Dr. Barton, 

 isthis: the young birds before they have acquired 

 their full strength, fall to the ground in attempting 

 to fly, and are thus exposed to the attacks of the ser- 

 pent. The old bird will dart upon the serpent, but fear 

 will compel her to retire- She returns again, and 

 often prevents the destruction of her young, attacking 

 the snake with her wings, iier beak, or her claws. 

 Should the reptile succeed in capturing the young, 

 the mother is exposed to less danger. But the ap- 

 petite and capacity of the stomach of the serpent are 

 great, and when the yoang are devoured, the snake 

 seizes upon her, and this is the catastrophe which 

 crowns the tale of fascination. 



A new theory has been brought forward by the 

 learned Dr. Williamson of New York, to account 

 for the power of fascination ;* viz. extreme terror 



* The Memoir on this subject wij^ shorty appear in Dr. Co3^e*S 

 Philadelphia Mus£U(n« 



