The Sun.
London, England, 1833-09-07 00:00:00

CURIOUS EXPERIMENT ON A RAT [LE

SNAKE.

The following curious facts respecting the rattle-
snake, are from a letter of Judge Samuel Woodruff,
to Professor Silhman, in the last number of the
American Journal of Science :
" Some time in the more h of August, 1 went
with Mr. Kirtland, and Dr. C. Dutton, then residing
at Portland, to the Mahoning for the purpose of
shooting deer, at a place whete they were in the
habit of coming to the river to feed on the moss at-
tached to the stones in the shoal water. We took
our watch station on an elevated part of the batik,
15 or 20 yards from the edge of the water. About
an hour after we commenced our watch, instead of
a deer, we discovered a rattle-snake, which, it ap-
peared, had left his den, in the rocks beneath us,
and was advancing actors a smooth, narrow sand
beach towards the water. It occurred to me that
an opportunity now offered to try the virtue of the
white ash leaves. Requesting the gentlemen to
keep, in my absence, a watch over our object, I
went immediately in search of the leaves, and on a
piece of low ground, thirty or forty rods back from
the river, I soon found, and by the aid of my hunt-
ing knife, procured a small ash sappling, eight or
ten feet in length, and with a view to make the ex-
peritnent more satisfactory, I cut another sapling of
the sugar maple, and with these wands returned to
ihe scene of action. In order to cut off the retreat
to his den, I approached the snake in his rear. As
soon as I came within about seven or eight feet of
him, he quickly threw his body into a coil, elevated
his head eight or ten inches, and brandishing his
tongue, "gave note of preparation" for combat.
" I first presented him with the white ash, placing
the leaves upon his body. He ins•antly dropped his
head to the ground, unfolded his coil, rolled over
upon his back, writhed and twisted his whole body
into every form but that of a coil, and appeared to
be in great anguish. Suti-fled with the trial thus
far made, I laid by the white ash The rattle
snake immediate y righted, and placed himself in
the same menacing attitude as before described. I
now presented the sugar maple. He lanced in a
moment, striking his bead into a tuft of the leaves,
" with all the malice of the under fiends," and the
next moment coiled and lanced again, darting his
whole length at each effort with the soiftness of an
arrow. After presenting this several times, I again
changed his fate, and presented him the white ash.
He immediately doused his peak, stretched himself
on his back in the same manner as at the first ap-
plication. It was then proposed to try what effect
might be produced upoe his temper and couraee by
ti little flogging with the white ash. This was ad-
ministered.. But instead of arousing him to resent-
ment, it served only to increase his troubles. As
the flogging grew More severe, the snake frequently
struck his head into the sand as far as be could
iluust it, seeming desirous to bore his way. into the
earth and rid himself' of his unwelcome visitors.
" Being new convinced that the expel merit was a
satisfactory one, and fairly conducted on both sides,
we deemed it unnecessary to take his life, after he
had contributed so much to gratify our curiosity
and so we took leave of the rattle-snake, with feel-
itigs as friendly et least as those with which we
eorntneuced our acquaintance with him, and left him
to return at leisure to his den."