242 
SNAKES. 
have. The old view was that it was intended to warn creatures preyed on by 
these reptiles of the approach of their enemy; but, in regard to this supposition, 
Darwin well observes that “ I would almost as soon believe that the cat curls the 
end of its tail when preparing to spring in order to warn the doomed mouse. It 
is a much more probable view that the rattle-snake uses its rattle, the cobra 
expands its frill, and the puff-adder swells while hissing so loudly and harshly, in 
order to alarm the many birds and beasts which are known to attack even the most 
venomous species. Snakes act on the same principle wdiich makes a hen ruffle her 
feathers and expand her wings when a dog approaches her chickens.” In this 
passage the writer commits himself to the view that the rattle is an instrument of 
intimidation. It may, however, be observed that the sound would be quite as 
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likely to attract enemies as to repel them. Moreover, it is now a well-ascertained 
fact that rattle-snakes do not possess the power of hissing; and as that faculty 
seems more closely connected with fear than with any other emotion, it would be 
quite reasonable to suppose that the rattle stands in place of the hiss. Another 
feature in the controversy is the circumstance that the sound of the rattle of one 
snake causes all its kindred within hearing to sound their own; and the organ 
therefore probably serves as a means of communication. What is known as 
the “ dinner-bell ” theory, that is, that a rattle-snake attracts insects like grass¬ 
hoppers and cicadas within striking distance by the resemblance of the sound 
of its rattle to their own stridulating utterances, has been pretty clearly 
disproved; while if it required a further quietus, the circumstance that these 
reptiles do not appear to prey habitually upon insects would be sufficient. On 
