RATTLE SNAKE. 
bellows ; the beautiful parti-coloured skin be- 
comes speckled and rough by dilatation ; the 
head and neck appear flattened ; the cheeks 
swell ; the hps, being constrifted, -discover it's 
deadly fangs ; the eyes glow like burning coals \ 
and the brandishing forked tongue, of the co- 
lour of the' hottest flame, continually menaces 
death and destru6lion ; yet the creature never 
strikes, till certain of reaching it's mark. 
Then, ere6ting itself on it's tail, the wound is 
inflidled in an instant ; when it draws back, 
and meditates a second bite ; after which, if we 
m.ay credit some authors, it remains torpid and 
ina6live,without even attempting to escape. 
The wound, though at first seemingly tri- 
vial, is considerably more painful than tlic 
sting of a bee; and this pain, far from abating, 
becomes every moment more excruciating and 
dangerous : the afFedled part swells ; the venom 
reacheG the head, which soon assumes a mon- 
strous appearance; the eyes appear red and 
fiery ; and the heart beats quick, with frequcni 
interruptions. In a short time, the pain grows 
insupportable, and some expire under it in five 
or six hours ; while others, with stronger con- 
stitutions. 
