170 
CREATURES OF MYSTERY 
to the snake, crying or moaning piteously while it does so, but 
apparently unable to control its movements once the serpent’s 
eye has been fastened upon it. But should anyone pass between 
the reptile and its victim so as even momentarily to obscure the 
vision, the spell is broken and the bird or animal can escape. 
It has been noticed that the serpent is generally coiled when 
exercising its power of attraction, so possibly this position, in 
some way, increases the magnetic force.” 
The author continues: “Catesby, writing in 1771, describ¬ 
ing the rattlesnake, cautiously says: “The charming, or at¬ 
tractive power which this snake is said to have of drawing to 
it animals and devouring them, is generally believed in Amer¬ 
ica ; as for my own part, I never saw the action, but a great 
many from whom I have had it related all agree in the manner 
of the process, which is that animals, particularly birds and 
squirrels (which particularly are their prey), no sooner spy 
the snake than they skip from spray to spray, hovering and 
approaching gradually nearer to their enemy, regardless of 
any other danger; but with distracted gestures and outcries, 
descend even from the top of the loftiest trees, to the mouth of 
the snake, who openeth his mouth, takes them in, and in an in¬ 
stant swallows them.” 
Similar account is given by Catesby’s contemporary, the 
naturalist Goldsmith, who, without committing himself, avers, 
“It is said by some that a rattlesnake has a power of charming 
its prey into its mouth; and that is as strongly contradicted by 
others. The inhabitants of Pennsylvania are said to have op¬ 
portunities of observing this strange fascination every day. The 
snake is often seen basking at the foot of a tree, where birds 
and squirrels make their residence. There, coiled upon its tail, 
its jaws extended, and its eyes shining like fire, the rattlesnake 
levels its dreadful glare upon one of the little animals above. 
The bird, or squirrel, whichever it may be, too plainly per¬ 
ceives the mischief militating against it, and hops from branch 
to branch, with a timorous plaintive sound, wishing to avoid, 
yet incapable of breaking through the fascination; thus it con¬ 
tinues for some time its feeble efforts and complaints, but is still 
seen approaching lower and lower toward the bottom branches 
