NORTH AMERICA. 
263 
/ 
the fpiral coil ; his tail by the rapidity of its mo- 
tion appears like a vapour, making a quick tremu- 
lous found 5 his whole body fwells through rage, 
continually rifing and falling as a bellows; his beau- 
tiful particoloured fkin becomes fpeckledand rough 
by dilatation ; his head and neck are flattened, his 
cheeks fwollen and his lips conftri&ed, difcover- 
ing his mortal fangs ; his eyes red as burning coals, 
and his brandifhing forked tongue of the colour of 
the hotteft flame, continually menaces death and 
deftrudtion, yet never flrikes unlefs fure of his 
mark. 
The rattle fnake is the largeft ferpent yet known 
to exifl: in North America. I have heard of their 
having been feen formerly, at the firft fettling of 
Georgia, feven, eight and even ten feet in length, 
and 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 
Itedfaftly looking at them poflefs them with infa~ 
tuation : be the caufe what it may, the miferable 
creatures undoubtedly ftrive by every poflible 
means to efcape, but alas ! their endeavours are in 
vain, they at laid lofe the power of refiftance, and 
flutter or move flowly, but relu&antly, towards the 
yawning jaws of their devourers, and creep into 
their mouths, or lie down and fuffer themfelves to 
I be taken and fwallowed. 
Since* 
4 
