THE LIVING WORLD. 
201 
spring, was somewhat advanced he released it from prison to determine what 
effect its freedom might now have. Its attachment, however, was not broken by 
this change, but to his surprise the reptile appeared to prefer his companion¬ 
ship and would follow him from place to place like a dog follows his master, and 
would retire to its bed in the corner when night approached. For eighteen months 
this curious relation between man and snake continued, and until an accident 
put an untimely end to the thoroughly domesticated reptile. 
The Ground Rattlesnake ranges along the Atlantic coast from North Caro¬ 
lina southward,, and on the prairies west of the Mississippi, but on account of 
its diminutive size, since it seldom exceeds eighteen inches in length, has received 
little attention from naturalists. But what it may be lacking in size is more than 
compensated for by 
its abundance and 
the fact that its at- 
tacks are made 
without the warn¬ 
ing that is given 
forth by the larger 
species. Being sel¬ 
dom provided with 
more than one rat¬ 
tle and a button, the 
noise it makes is 
scarcely audible, 
and being most 
courageous it is 
liable to be fairly 
stepped on before 
discovery. It is 
probably as ven¬ 
omous, propor¬ 
tionate to size, 
the other spe- 
as 
cies described, 
but its bite is 
rarely attended eer delance. 
with fatal results. 
The several other species not specially described are so nearly like those here 
mentioned that only the most critical examination by a naturalist can discover 
any difference, hence we do not esteem them of sufficient importance to note. 
Like the Indian, the rattlesnake is fast disappearing, the capture of one now any¬ 
where east of the Mississippi being heralded as a great exploit. Their numbers 
are growing rapidly less by reason of the destruction wrought among them by 
hogs, as before stated, as well as by man, so that a few years hence none 
will be left save the few specimens preserved in museums. 
The rattlesnake is viviparous, bringing forth from five to ten young at a 
time. I was once a witness to the birth of seven young rattlesnakes by a mother 
that had been in captivity several months, though I cannot say exactly how many, 
though certainly for six or more. The period of gestation has not been thor- 
