[ *T 3 3 
Not having before met with lo particular a De- 
fcription of the Rattle, which this Sort of Vipers 
carries at their Tails, 1 lhall tranfcribe his Words. 
“ The Rattle is of a brown Colour, compofed of 
“ levcral horney membranous Cells of an undulated 
“ pyramidal Figure, which are articulated one with- 
in the other, fo that the Point of the firft Cell 
** reaches as far as the Bafis, or protuberant Ring 
“ of the third, and fo on which Articulation be- 
“ ing very loofe, gives Liberty to the Parts of the 
“ Cells, that are inclofed within the outward Rings, 
“ to ftrike againft the Sides of them, and fo to caufe 
“ the rattling Noile, which is heard when the 
“ Snake lhakes its Tail. In the Plate is delineated 
“ the Se&ion of one of thefe Rattles, and likewife 
“ one of them entire with 24 Joints ; and on the 
“ other Side is a large Fang or Tusk.” 
42. Viper a caudijona Americana minor: The (mall 
Rattle-Snake. Our Author is not certain whether 
this be of a different Species from the preceeding; 
its Difference of Size and Colour being poflibly 
owing to Difference of Age, and the Change of its 
Exuviae for he lays, that he hath often oblerved 
that the lame Snake, on changing its Skin, hath been 
of very different Colours from what it was before. 
He thinks it to be a Miftake, that Rattle-Snakes 
have as many Joints in their Rattles, as they are 
Years old. To this Serpent are joined the Figures 
of two Plants. 
Frute x, foliis oblongis ferratis alternis ; Aca- 
cia floribus luteis •, fruffu brevi , calyculato vi- 
ridi . 
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V V# •-*> * -<* * i * s ~ ~ • ‘ n T ^ '■ ‘ 
K k 1 Acacia , 
