BANDED RATTLE-SNAKE, 3J9 



more amply described hereafter, and which, on 

 the least disturbance or irritation, is elevated and 

 shaken in such a manner as to cause a strong or 

 brisk rattling sound. 



The largest Rattle-Snake," says Catesby, 



which I ever saw, was about eight feet in 

 length, and weighing between eight and nine 

 pounds. This monster was sliding into the house 

 of Colonel Blake of Carolina, and had certainly 

 taken up his abode there undisturbed, had not the 

 domestic animals alarmed the family with their 

 repeated outcries : the hogs ^, dogs, and poultry, 

 united in their hatred to him, shewing the greatest 

 consternation, by erecting their bristles and fea- 

 thers, and expressing their wrath and indignation, 

 surrounded him, but carefully kept their distance; 

 while he, regardless of their threats^ glided slowly 

 along." It is not uncommon," adds Mr. Ca- 

 tesby, to have them come into houses; a very 

 extraordinary instance of which happened to my- 

 self in the same gentleman's house, in the month 

 of February, 1723; the servant in making the 

 bed in a ground room (but few minutes after I 

 left it) on turning down the sheets, discovered 

 a rattle-snake coiled between the sheets in the 

 middle of the bed." They are the most inac- 

 tive and slow moving snake," adds this author, 



of all others, and are never the aggressors, ex- 



* Hogs, however, are, in general, said to be so little afraid of 

 the rattle-snake, that they prey on it occasionally with great 

 eagerness ; seizing it in such a manner as to prevent it from doing 

 them any injury, and devouring it. 



