416 A DESCRIPTION OF 
The snake of warmer countries is not so harmless as that 
of this island, as will be easily perceived by what will fol- 
low. 
THE RATTLE-SNAKE (Crotalus horridus,) 
Is a native of the new world ; it grows to five, and some- 
times to six feet in length, and is nearly as thick as a man's 
leg; and is not unlike the viper, having a large head and 
small neck, and inflicting a very dangerous wound. Over 
each eye is a large pendulous scale, the use of which has 
not yet been ascertained ; the body is scaly and hard, va- 
riegated with several different colours. The principal 
characteristic of this justly dreaded serpent is the rattle, a 
kind of instrument resembling the curb-chain of a bridle, 
and affixed at the extremity of the tail; it is formed of 
thin, hard, hollow bones, linked together, and rattling on 
the least motion. When disturbed, the creature shakes 
this rattle with a considerable noise and rapidity, striking 
terror into all small animals, which are afraid of the de- 
structive venom that this serpent communicates to the 
wounded limb with his bite. The wound the Rattle- 
snake inflicts, through the uncommon sharpness and rapid 
fluency of the poison, generally terminates the torment 
