NORTH AMERICA. 263 
the fpiral coll ; his tail by the rapidity of its mo- 
tion appears like a vapour, making a quick tremu- 
lous found; his whole body fwells through rage, 
continually rifing and failing as a bellows ; his beau- 
tiful particoloured fkin becomes fpeckled and rough 
by dilatation ; his head and neck are flattened, his 
cheeks fwollen and his lips conflricled, difcover*- 
ing his mortal fangs ; his eyes red as burning coals, 
and his hrandifhing forked tdngue of the colour of 
the hottefl: flame, continually menaces death and 
deftru&ion, yet never ftrikes unlefs fure of his 
mark. 
The rattle fnake is the largefl ferpent yet known 
to exift in North America. I have heard of their 
haying been feen formerly, at the firft fettling of 
Georgia, feven, eight and even ten feet in length, 
^nd fix or eight inches diameter ; but there are none 
of that fize now to be feen ; yet I have feen them 
above fix feet in length, and above fix inches in 
thicknefs, or as large as a man's leg ; but their ge- 
neral fize is four, five, and fix feet in length. 
They are fuppofed to have the power of fafci- 
nation in an eminent degree, fo as to inthral their 
prey. It is generally believed that they charm 
birds, rabbits, fquirrels and other animals, and by 
ftedfaftly looking at them poffefs them with infa- 
tuation : be the caufe what it may, the miferabie 
creatures undoubtedly ftrive by every poffible 
means to efcape, but alas ! their endeavours are in 
vain, they at lad lofe the power of refinance, and 
flutter or move {lowly, but reluctantly, towards the 
yawning jaws of their devourers, and creep into 
their mouths, or lie down and fufTer themfelves to 
foe taken and fwallowed? 
Since. 
