660 Marvels of the Universe 
of each tang are several in reserve, ranging from one full-grown to the mere germ of one. On the 
fracture of a fang, the first one on the reserve falls into a socket by the side of the one holding the 
broken fang. It soon becomes securely fixed to the maxillary bone and ready for use, while the base 
of the broken fang falls out, and the now vacant socket is ready for a new instrument. 
Another curious point about the snake is the deep pit between the eye and the nostril. 
What the purpose of this formation may be has set naturalists wondering, and they are still 
wondering. 
The colouring of Rattlers is a matter not without its interest, for their particular scheme of color- 
ation seems to combine the two functions of warning and of protective] colour. The Diamond 
Rattler, for instance, has elaborate markings of a diamond shape in dark-brown, red-brown and 
yellow, which extend right down the back, and these hues are particularly warning hues. 
Others of the Rattlesnakes are coloured so similarly to their surroundings that they are difficult 
to detect, such as the one 
instanced by Mr. Backus : 
“ Peering with eager eyes 
into the deep shadow 
of a thicket ... I sud- 
denly heard the - shrill 
locust-like rattle of a 
snake. It sent a sickening 
chill through my _ heart, 
causing it to stop beating 
momentarily and then go 
violently pounding against 
my side. The rattle was 
so extremely loud that 
I knew I was right on him 
—and a big one. But 
where ? I could not see 
him. I looked down 
to the ledge on which I 
= 
Photo by] [W.S. Berridge, F.Z.s 
Wale SNASES IVATIIDE: was creeping—no_ snake ; 
This is composed of a series of hard horn cups with heavy rims fitting into each other 0 : 
closely and secured in place by a horny “‘button.’’ When the owner is angry he causes under a projecting rock 
these rims to vibrate and produce the sound for which he is famous. at my side—still no snake 
to be seen, but this rattle always dinning in my ears and coming apparently from every direction. 
I lifted my head a little. There, about a foot away, on a flat rock at the height of my shoulders, 
was a big black Rattlesnake, coiled up amongst some dead and flattened pine-branches of almost 
the same colour and marking as himself.’’ 
The rattle is made up of depressed rings, which overlap a smaller cup with something of a stalk 
terminating ina button. The button attaches the one cup in the hollow of the neighbouring cup. 
So cup fits into cup, and the series of rims form the rattle. A new rim is formed every time the 
Rattlesnake casts its slough ; but when the older joints become worn out and feeble, they drop off 
and new ones take their place. The number of rings, therefore, does not indicate the age of the 
snake—a fable that is too readily believed. 
As to the use of the rattle there have been many theories. Some say it is used as a lure for 
insectivorous birds ; but unfortunately for this theory, the snake, when out hunting, is peculiarly 
quiet ; another that it is used to terrify its prey; a third, that it is used as a musical instrument 
during courtship; but this is hardly likely, for the rattle has been proved to be more vigorously 
used when the owner is in a state of anger. The most probable solution of the problem is, therefore, 
