RATTLESNAKES. 165 
possession, which contained no less than thirty- 
two joints; yet the snake from which it was 
taken, scarcely admeasured five feet; rattle¬ 
snakes, however, of the same kind, and in the 
same part of the country, have been found of 
a greater length with not more than ten rattles. 
One of the snakes, which we saw killed on 
Bass Island, in Lake Erie, had no more than 
joints in its rattle, and yet it was nearly four 
feet long. 
The skin of the rattlesnake, when the animal 
is wounded, or otherwise enraged, exhibits a 
variety of beautiful tints, never seen at any 
other time. It is not with the teeth which 
the rattlesnake uses for ordinary purposes, that 
it strikes its enemy, but with two long crooked 
fangs in the upper jaw, which point down the 
throat. When about to use these fangs, it 
rears itself up as much as possible, throws back 
its head, drops its under jaw, and springing 
forward upon its tail, endeavours to hook itself 
as it were upon its enemy. In order to raise 
itself on its tail, it coils itself up previously in a 
spiral line, with the head in the middle. It 
cannot spring farther-forward than about half 
its own length. 
The flesh of the rattlesnake is as white as 
the most delicate fish, and is much esteemed 
by those who are not prevented from tasting 
it by prejudice. The soup made from it, is 
said to be delicious and very nourishing. 
