344 MifcelUnea Curiofa. Vol. Ill 



at the end of the Tail : Thefe Rattles feeni 

 like fo many perifhed Joints^ being a dry 

 Husk over certain Joints, and the common 

 Opinion is , that there are as many Rattles 

 or Joints, as the Snake is years old. I kill'd 

 four or five , and they had each eleven, 

 twelve, or thirteen Joints each y but the 

 young Ones have no Rattles of a year or 

 two, but they may be known notwithftand- 

 ing, being very regularly diced or clKckerM, 

 black and gray on the backs. ^ The Old 

 fhake and fhiver thefe Rattles with wonder- 

 ful nimblenefs when they are any ways di- 

 Iturbed their bite is very deadly, yet not 

 always of the fame force, but more or lefs 

 Mortal, accordingly as the Snake is in force 

 or vigour, and therefore in June or July much 

 worfe, and more Mortal, than in March and 

 AfriL This Snake is a very Majeflick fort 

 of Creature, and will fcarce meddle with 

 any thing unlefs provok'd, but if any thing 

 offend it, it makes direftly at them. I was 

 told a pleafant Story of an Old Gentlemen, 

 Co\. Cleyb or n as I remember was his Name, 

 the fame that fent the Rattle-Snakes to the 

 Royal Society fome Years fince. He had an 

 odd Fancy of keeping fome of thefe Snakes 

 always in Barrels in the Houfe, and one time 

 2^xi Indian pretending to Charm them fo as to 

 take them by the Neck in his Hand without 

 biting of him ; the Old Gentleman caufed a 

 Rattle-Spake to be brought forth, the Indian 

 began his Charm with a little Wand, whisk- 

 ing it round and round the Rattle-Snake's 

 Head, bringing it by degrees nigher and 

 jiigher, and at length flung the Switch away, 



and 



