TR; BAlTLBSMAKt. 
W service of the individtuiii'. I'hii snake 
V** "'itl squirrels and birds, which a reptile can never 
^ advantage of some management to bring 
''each. The way is this. The snake creeps 
a tree, and by shaking his rattle, awakens tlie 
■Ic which are lodged in it. They are so frightened 
ijj''' oiig ’■ their enemy, who fixes his lively piercing eyes 
them, tliat they have not tlie power to 
i, about from bough to bough, till they aixi 
V'"'''*'tl/ falling to the ground, are snapped into 
lj?‘>liiig ' is, by the people of the country, called the 
V'4u'** *‘l“*trels and Krds.” This opinion of Doctor 
'« tietnQ?'P'^''ted by Doctor Barton of Philadelphia, who, 
V supposed fascinating power of the rattle- 
ij Hug the whole to be . nothing more than the 
I birds in defence of their young, and whicli 
occasionally caught by tire rattle snake, in 
top near an approach. 
V''® Is general from three to five feet in length ; 
WVeii'^^^'^tibed by Catesby as measuring eight feet. 
V S ana observes, that “ it is the most inactive of all 
"'tept • the slowest motion, never being the aggres- 
'Qt *'■ Ptop upon ; for, unless it is disturbed, 
‘If • It is of a yellowish-brown colour, marked 
t*® whole length with several transverse and 
'■in dis/'^'^^^^tyascire of deep brown. From the head 
V**tipes^*?® tfown the neck run two or three longitu- 
V'l Wit]'** satne colour. The head is large, flat, and 
V^ely I* ®ttiall scales j the rest of the upper parts with 
ones, all strongly furnished with a pro- 
middle : the under parts are of a dingy 
Sji ^11(1 f Colour, marked with numerous dusky varie- 
Jtli extremity of the tail is situated 
several hard, dry, homy processes, 
*' SUH disturbance or irritation, is elevated and 
® manner as to cause a strong and brisk 
X ‘■-'ktlesi.. . 
^ 1 } the is a vivinarous animal, and is said to 
V ^ extraordinary mode of preserving its 
\’ 7 ^s is ascribed to the viper in Europe, 
civing them into its mouth and swallowing 
® Ifeauvois, ip tire relation of his travels 
