64 
CREATURES OF MYSTERY 
ful if more than one person in a million of those living in in¬ 
fested territory will ever be witness to such a rare occurrence. 
To admit that it is rarely observed is not admitting that it does 
not occur. 
We once read an article in a splendid publication having a 
circulation of approximately one and one-half millions of the 
intelligentsia of the nation. The author of the article had evi¬ 
dently read all that was ever recorded on the subject, and con¬ 
sequently knew. This particular “pet myth current among lay¬ 
men” was set at nought, wholly upon the theory that if swal¬ 
lowed they would surely be destroyed by the digestive juices 
of the mother’s stomach, or be smothered before she could 
transport them to a place of safety. If they passed successfully 
through both these dreadful ordeals, then they could not pos¬ 
sibly regain the open again due to the fact that the upper end 
of the mother’s throat are to be found so many briar-like 
thorns, all pointing downward. 
It has come within my own observation and experience that 
they do not suffocate so easily. I once saw one dug out of the 
earth where he had been imprisoned in a very small cavity for 
three and one-half months, being none the worse from the ex¬ 
perience. The mother rattler is capable of distending her 
throat to such unbelievable proportions that a bountiful supply 
of fresh air can be readily admitted when needed. 
In substantiation of Uncle Dave’s contentions that mated 
rattlers keep in touch with each other through the aid of their 
sunset and dawn call, we offer this further item of testimony. 
The old darkey to whom we are indebted was part Seminole 
Indian, consequently good on observation. He was nearing 
eighty years of age and had spent practically all of his life 
following outdoor pursuits. Opportunity was never afforded 
him to exchange views with Mr. Nettles. He knew of his own 
knowledge that the rattler sings his song each night between 
sunset and dusk and at the dawn of each day. He recognized 
it when he heard it, and on such occasions would locate it defi¬ 
nitely with the idea in view of trapping the singer when he 
again chipped boxes in the vicinity. Already having this fellow 
marked for destruction, when he next chipped his trees he 
