RATTLE SNAKE. 
destitute of Rattles; while many old ones 
have been killed, which had eleven or thirteen 
joints each. These Rattles are shaken with 
prodigious noise and rapidity, when the animal 
is disturbed ; and then most creatures tremble 
at the sound, and instantly provide for their 
safety in liight: the vulture and the peccary, 
however, rejoice at these signals, hasten to 
their favourite prey, and seize the Snake wiili 
the utmost alacrity. 
Widely different is the case, with regard to 
almost every other class of animated being. 
The certain death which ensues from the bite 
of this terrific reptile, creates a' kind of soli- 
tude wherever it is heard. It moves along, 
however, with the most majestic pace, neither 
offering to injure the larger animals, nor ap- 
pearing apprehensive of insult. ' Unprovoked,, 
it never annoys any creature, except it's natu- 
ral prey : but, if pursued or molested, it in- 
stantly throws itself into a spiral coil ; the tail, 
by it's rapidity of motion, appears like a va- 
pour, making a quick tremulous sound; the 
whole body swells with rage, continually ri- 
sing and falling like the action of a pair of 
bellows ; 
