CREATURES OF MYSTERY 
21 
the seventh. Six days appears to be the limit of his stay upon 
the spot where he has made a kill. Inquiring ones would very 
naturally wonder why he would tarry at the place of the kill¬ 
ing. The prevailing opinion is that he is weak and emaciated 
due to the loss of his store of venom, and due to the physical 
processes set in motion while re-charging his venom sac. Being 
without venom, and in addition having lost his appetite for 
food, he sees nothing to be gained roaming about in such a 
condition. Those who have observed them very closely will 
tell you that following a killing he appears shrunken, and shows 
less prowess in battle. 
When the first cool nights come in the fall of the year rattlers 
begin doing much stirring about, seeking suitable places for 
hibernation. It is a busy time for him until he finds a suitable 
winter home. At such times they are likely to be encountered 
anywhere. They usually choose a straight course from their 
feeding ground to their winter quarters, disregarding for the 
time being their usual rules of precaution for “safe motoring,” 
Considerable pains is taken in choosing a hole in which to 
spend the winter. They prefer one on the south side of a hill 
or surely one pointing downhill. Those on the south side of 
hills are not so badly exposed to the cold north wind. Those 
opening from down the hill do not catch water when it rains. 
They prefer holes that turn sharply as soon as they enter the 
ground. Such serves a double purpose. First, the crook in the 
hole serves to check the cold winds. And second, the turn pro¬ 
vides them protection against the peering eyes of their enemies. 
They surely want a quiet corner where there is no traffic, and 
invariably they choose a hole only a few feet from the dense 
undergrowth. They prefer to winterquarter by the side of 
small spring streams running into the creeks or rivers from 
the east, rather than being too close to the large streams. They 
never seem to camp along extremely steep inclines by the side 
of the large streams. Just what reasons enter into their deci¬ 
sions as touching this particular point is very difficult to de¬ 
termine. 
His habits about his winter quarters appear to be governed 
by certain strict rules. He will not crawl out over the soft 
