RAT 
prevent the dazzling of the fun. The reafon of 
It's feeking an eminence is for the fake of feeing 
or hearing the honey guide cuckow, the cuculiis 
indicator, which lives on bees, and as it were leads 
the way to their haunts. 
The Ratel is incapable of climbing; and there- 
fore, when the bees are lodged in trees, it tears 
the bark from their bottoms through rage and 
difappointment; by which fign alfo the Hotten- 
tots are certified that there is a neft of bees above. 
The hair of this animal is very ftifF; and the 
hide fo tough, that it is not eafily killed. It 
makes a ftout refiftance by biting and fcratching; 
and dogs cannot eafily faftcn on it's flcin : a pack 
which could tear a moderate-fized lion to pieces, 
can make no impreiTion on the hide of this beaft; 
and though they frequently worry it to death, 
they never leave any apparent wounds. 
This feems to be the Stinkblinfom of Kolben, 
which he charafterifes as emitting a moft noifome 
flench. 
RATSHER, OR ALDERiVTAN. An appel- 
lation given by Martin to a fpecies of gull or 
mew. 
RATTLE-SNAKE. A very formidable and 
poifonous reptile; a native of the New World 
only, being wholly unknown in the Old. It is 
ibmetimes found as thick as a man's leg, and fix 
feet in length ; but the moft ufual fize is from 
four to five feet long. It refembles the viper in 
moft particulars: like that animal, it has a large 
head, and a fmall neck; it's colour alfo is dufky; 
and it's fangs infli6l the moft terrible wounds. It 
differs, however, in having a large fcaie pendu- 
lous over each eye; and the eye alfo is furnifhed 
with a niditating membrane, which preferves it 
from duft. It's fcales are pretty hard; of an 
orange, tawny, and blackifh colour, on the back; 
and of an afh-colour on the belly, inclining to 
lead. The male may be eafily diftinguifhed from 
the female by a black velvet fpot on the head, 
and by the head itfelf being longer and more flen- 
der. But, exclufive of their fuperior malignity, 
that which more particularly diftinguifhes thefe 
from all other animals, is their Rattle; an inftru- 
ment lodged in their tails, by which they make 
fuch a loud hoife when in motion, that their ap- 
proach may be readily perceived, and confe- 
quenrly the danger avoided. This Rattle, when 
feparated from the tail, fomewhat refembles the 
curb-chain of a bridle; and is compofed of feve- 
ral thin, hard, hollow bones, linked together, and 
rattling on the flighteft motion. Some are of 
opinion that the Snake acquires an additional 
bone every year; and that by this means it's age 
may be precifely afcertained: however this may 
be, certain it is that the young Snakes of a year or 
two old are deftitute of Rattles; while many old 
ones have been killed which had eleven or thir- 
teen joints each. Thefe Rattles are fhakcn with 
prodigious noife and rapidity when the animals 
are difturbed; and then moft creatures tremble at 
the found, and inftantly provide for their fafety in 
flight. The vulture and the pecary, however, re- 
joice at this fignal; haftento their favourite prey ; 
and feize the Snakes with the utmoft alacrity. 
The cafe is widely different with regard to al- 
moft every other animated being. The certain 
death which enfues from the bite of this terrible 
reptile creates a kind of folitude wherever it is 
heard. It moves along with the moft majeftic 
rapidity, neither offering to offend the larger ani- 
VOL. II. ^ 
RAT 
mals, nor appearing apprehenfive of dieir infults. 
Unprovoked, it never annoys any creature but it's 
natural prey; but, when accidentally trod on, or 
purfued, it then makes a dreadful and defperate 
defence: it ere£ls itfelf on it's tail, throws back 
it's head, and infliiis it's wound in an inftant; 
then parts, and meditates a fecond wound ; after 
which, if we may credit fome autliors, it remains 
torpid and inadlive, without even attempting to 
efcape. 
The mom^ent this v/ound is inflifted, though 
, .... *— ' 
feemingly trivial, it is confiderably more painful 
than the fting of a bee: tliis pain, far from abat- 
ing, becomes every moment more excruciatinp; 
and dangerous; the afic£ted part fv/ells; the ve- 
nom foon reaches tb.e head, vv'hich affumes amon- 
ftrous appearance; the eyes appear red and fiery; 
and the heart beats quick, with frequent interrup- 
tions. The pain foon grows infupportable; and 
fome expire under it in five or fix hours; but fuch 
as have ftronger conftitutions, furvive the agony 
a few hours longer, but only to yield to an uni- 
verfal mortification, which quickly contaminates 
the whole frame. 
A Virginian gendeman, walking in his fields, 
accidentally trod on a Rattle-Snake that had been 
lurking in a ftony fituacion ; which, enraged by 
the prefifin-e, reared up it's head, bit his hand, and 
fhook it's Rattles. The gentleman imjmediately 
perceived his dreadful fituation; but, determined 
not to die unrevenged, he killed the Snake, and 
carrying it home in his hand, threw it on the 
ground before his family, crying out, ' I am a 
dead man! here is my murderer!' His arm (in 
which the fwelling had already commenced) was 
inftantly tied up near the fnoulder; the wound 
was anointed with oil, and every precaution ufed 
either to check or extraft the infeftion. Having 
a very found conftitution, he recovered, but not 
without experiencing the moft various and dread- 
ful fymptoms for feveral weeks fucceOlvely. The 
arm, below the ligature, appeared of various co- 
lours, with a writhing among the mufcles, that 
to his terrified imagination reprefented the very 
motions of the animal which inflicted the wound. 
A fever enfued, the lofs of his hair, giddinefs, 
drought, debility, and nervous faintings; till, by 
flow degrees, a very ftrong habit co-operating with 
medicinal applications, expelled the latent malig- 
nity. 
Several remedies have been tried to alleviate 
this calamity : a decodlion of the Virginian Snake- 
root is confidered as the moft efficacious; and, at 
the fame time, the head of the reptile bruifed, 
and laid on the part afi'edled, is judged to afllfl 
the cure. In general, however, it is found to be 
fatal; and the Indians, fenfible of this, frequently 
dip their arrows in the poifon lodged under the 
fangs of this terrible creature, when their favage 
difpofition excites them to execute any fignal re- 
venge on their enemies. 
Thus far the hiftory of this animal is unani- 
moufly confirmed by every naturalift : but the 
fubfequent accounts, though in general credited, 
are not fo well afcertained. Firft, it's motion, 
which fome defcribe as tlie fwifteft imaginable; 
afi^erting, that it's Indian appellation Ecacoalt, or 
the wind-ferpent, is to be underftood of it's won- 
derful agility: while others affirm, that it is the 
floweft and moft fluggifh of all ferpents, and fel- 
dom moves from it's place. In this oppofition of 
opinions, there are others who aflert, that it moves 
3 L i)ut 
/ 
