Ân Hijîorîcal Journal of 91 



nefs of a Pea, and have yellow Spots upon a white Ground. 

 They fay they have commonly three, and fometimes live Eggs. 

 Amongft the Reptiles of this Country, I know of none but 

 Of the Rattle Rattle-Snake that deferves any Attention. 



SnJte ^ ^ ' There are fom.e of thcfe as big as a Man's 

 Leg, and fometimes bigger, and they are 

 long in Proportion : But there are fome, and I believe the 

 greateft Number, that are not bigger nor longer than our largeil: 

 Adders in France : Their Shape is pretty fmgular. Upon a fiac 

 and very thick Neck they have but a fmali Head : Their Co- 

 lours are lively, without being brilliant ; a pale Yellow predo- 

 minates, with fome Clouds that are pretty enough. 



But what is moft remarkable in this Animal, is its Tail, which 

 is fcaly like a Coat of Mail, a little Hat ; and they fay that it 

 grows every Year one Ring or Row of Scales, fo that they know 

 its Age by its Tail, as v/e do that of a Horfe by his Teeth. In 

 moving, it makes the fame Noife as a Cricket in flying : For 

 you know, without Doubt, Madam, that the pretended Singing 

 of a Cricket is only the Noife of its Wings. And the Refem- 

 blance I fpeak of is fo alike, that I have often been deceived by 

 it myfelf : It is this Noife that has given this Serpent the Name 

 it bears. 



The Bite of this Serpent is mortal, if a Remedy is not applied 

 immediately ; but Providence has provided a Remedy. In all 

 the Places where this dangerous Reptile is found, there grows a 

 Plant which is called Rattle- Snake Herb ; the Root of which is a 

 certain Antidote againil: the Venom of this Serpent : It need 

 only be pounded or chewed, and applied like a Poultice upon 

 the Wound : It is a beautiful Plant, and eafily known : Its round 

 Stalk, a little bigger than a Goofe's Quill, rifes to the Height of 

 three or four Feet, and ends in a yellow Flower of the Shape and 

 Bignefs of a common Daifey : This Flower has a very fweet 

 Smell. The Leaves of the Plant are oval, and are fupported 

 iive together, like the Claw of a Turkey, by a Stalk of an Inch 

 long. 



The Rattle-Snake feldom attacks the PafTenger that does not 

 meddle with it. I have had one at my Feet, which was cer- 

 tainly more afraid than myfelf ; for I did not perceive it till it 

 was running away : But if you tread upon it, you are immedi- 

 ately Hung ; and if you purfue it, if it^has but a little Time to 

 recover itfelf, it folds itfelf round with the Head in the Middle, 

 and then darts itfelf with great Violence and Fury againft its 

 Purfuer : Neverthelefs, the Savages chace it, and find its Flèfh 

 very good. I have even heard fome Frenchms7iy who had taâed 

 It, fay, that it was not bad eating ; but they were Travellers, and 

 fiioh People think every Thing good, becaufe tliey are often 



N 2 huîîgrj^. 



