322 BANDED RATTLE-SNAKE, 



particularly birds and squirrels (which principally 

 are their prey), no sooner spy the snake, than they 

 skip from spray to spray, hovering and approach- 

 ing gradually nearer to their enemy, regardless oT 

 any other danger; but with distracted gestures 

 and outcries, descend, though from the top of the 

 loftiest trees, to the mouth of the snake, who 

 openeth his jaws, takes them in, and in an instant 

 swallows them." 



On this subject Dr. Mead, in his work on poi- 

 sons, expresses himself as follows : 



With respect to the use of the Rattle, a vul- 

 gar error has obtained, even among the learned, 

 about it. It is commonly said that it is a kind 

 contrivance of divine Providence, to give warn- 

 ing to passengers by the noise which this part 

 makes when tlie creature moves, to keep out of 

 the way of its mischief. Now this is a mistake. 

 It is beyond all dispute that wisdom and goodness 

 shine forth in all the works of the Creation ; but 

 the contrivance here is of another kind than is 

 imagined. All the parts of animals are made 

 either for the preservation of the individual, or 

 for the propagation of its species : this before us is 

 for the service of the individual. This snake lives 

 chiefly upon squirrels and birds, which a reptile 

 can never catch without the advantage of some 

 management to bring them within its reach. The 

 way is this. The Snake creeps to the foot of a 

 tree, and, by shaking his rattle, awakens the little 

 creatures which are lodged in it. They are so 

 frighted at the sight of their enemy, who fixes his 



