THE LIVING WORLD. 
199 
The experiments thus reported by Prof. Woods are so singular, while he is 
regarded as such excellent authority, that I am more inclined to believe than 
ever before that snakes may exercise this power of fascinating their prey, though 
my experience has been to the contrary. Still, one man’s experience is insuffi¬ 
cient proof upon which to base a denial. I have frequently seen birds, such as 
the thrush and cat-bird battling heroically with a black snake that had attempted 
to despoil their nests. Yet it is claimed that the black snake can exercise the 
power of fascination, especially over birds, stronger than any other of the snake 
kind. In the cases falling under my observation the birds invariably beat off the 
intruder without themselves falling a prey. 
When the winter season approaches the rattlesnakes retire into some close 
place affording complete protection from the biting frosts. Most commonly they 
seek shelter in a cave, or beneath heavy mosses, or in large hollow logs where 
their hibernation is least likely to be disturbed. Nor is this retirement in iso¬ 
lation, but on the other hand 
they seem to prefer communi¬ 
ties, so that it frequently hap¬ 
pens when their winter haunt is 
discovered hundreds will be found 
lying in a tangle, but with heads 
always pointing outward. 
Rattlesnakes are peculiar to 
North America, where no less 
than eighteen species are found, 
some of which I will now de¬ 
scribe : 
The Diamond Rattle- 
snake, so called from the diamond¬ 
shaped markings of white over 
a dusky brown background, is 
usually found in marshy places, 
where it subsists off frogs, slugs, 
the young of muskrats, birds or any small creature that comes within its way. 
Concerning this reptile Holbrook says: “A more disgusting or terrific animal 
cannot be imagined than this ; its dusky color, bloated body, and sinister eyes 
of a sparkling gray and yellow, with the projecting orbital plates, combine to 
form an expression of sullen ferocity unsurpassed in the brute creation. 
The Banded Rattlesnake has its range from Maine to Texas, being 
once very populous in the East, but now rarely seen east of the Mississippi. 
In Texas it is still frequently met with, but the advance of civilization is 
rapidly diminishing their number. Rattlesnakes have their worst foe m the 
hog, which tramples it with impunity and feasts off the remains. This species 
prefers dry places, and its favorite food is rats, mice, frogs, young rabbits and 
ground squirrels. 
The Horned Rattlesnake takes its. name from the fact that its horrid 
head is rendered yet more terrible by being surmounted by a pair of horns 
rising about one-half inch above the cranium, m which respect it very much 
resembles the horned viper. Its habitat is the desert regions of Arizona, 
Mexico and Southern California. It is a very sluggish reptile and moves 
DIAMOND RATTLESNAKE. 
