The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1827-11-14
THE RATTLESN

Rattlesnakes hunt and secure for thei
prey with ease, grey squirrels that abound
IN our woods; therefore they nast be pos
sessed OF sWiitness to obtain them. Iiav
ing enjoyed the pleasure Of behoiding sucl
chase IN full view in the year 1921, shall
uetall ITS circumstances willis living OF
the ground TO watch the habits OF birt
which was new to me, previous to shooting
1t, heard smart rustling not far from me
and turning my head that way, saw, at the
same moment, grey squirrel, full grown
issuing from the thicket and bouncing of
IN strait direction, in leaps of several feet
at a time and, not more than twenty feet
behind, a rattlesnake of ordinary size, Dur-
SUNG, drawn out, apparently, to its full
length, and sliding over the ground SO rap
idly, that; as they both moved away from
me, was at no loss to observe the snake
gain upon the squirrel The squirrel made
Tor tree, and assembled its tepmost branch
es as nimbly as squirrels are known to do.
The snake performed the same task con-
slderably more slowly, yet, so fast that the
squirrel never raised its tail nor barked,
but eyed the enemy attentively as he
mounted and approached. When within
few yards, the squirrel leaped to another
branch, and the snake followed by stretch
ing out two-thirds of his body, whilst the
remainder held it securely from falling.
Passing thus from branch to branch, with a
rapidlty that astonished me, the squirrel
went IN and out Of several holes, but re-
manned in none, knowing we'll that
wherever his head would enter, the body
of his antagonist would follow; and, at
last, much exhausted and terrified took
desperate leap, and came to the earth
with legs and tail spread to their utmost, tc
ease the fall. That instant the snake drop
ped also, and was within a few yards of the
squirrel before it began making off The
chase on land again took place, and ere the
squirrel could reach another tree. the snake
mad seized it by the back, near the occiput
and soon rolled itself aboat in such wav
that although heard the cries of the victim
| scarcely saw any portion of its body. So
1uil OF Its ultimate object was the snake.
that it paid no attention to me. and 7 an
preached it to see in what manner it would
dispose OF ITS prey. A few minutes elapsed
when | saw the reptile loosening gradual
~ and nnening its folded coils, until the
..gn;;rra, rs entirely disengaged, having
been killed by sni,S. cation. The snake then
raised its body from the gssound and passed
It's head over the dead animal IN various
WAYS, to assure itself, that life had depart
ed it then took the end of the squirrels
tail, swallowed it gradually bringing first
one and then the other of the hind legs
parallel with it, and sucked with difficulty,
and for some time, at them and the rump
of the animal, until its jaws became so ex-
banded, that after this, it swallowed the
whole remaining parts with apparent ease.
This mass of food was removed several inch
es from the head in the stomach Of the
snake, and gave it the appearance of rou-
leau OF money, brought both ends of a purse
towards its centre; for Immediately after
the operation of swallowing was completed.
the jaws and neck resumed their former
appearance. The snake then attempted
to move off, but this was next to impossible:
when, having cut twig, | went up TO il.
and tapped 1t on the head, which it raised.
as well as its tail, and began for the first
time to rattle. | was satisfied that. for
some lapse of time, it could not remove far
ana mat, the woods being here rather thin,
it would soon become the victim of vnI,
ture. then killed it, and cut il open. 10
see how the squirrel lay within. / had re-
nidrkeu mat after the process of swallow
ing was completed, singular movements of
.ne pody had taken place kind of going
wy ana ITO lot while, not unlike the con- |
s " motions OF sick animal, as dog,
lol instahce,golng TO vomit. concluded that
S s,,;, in.ernai and necessary operation was
tha s on' nus was proved, when found
~ haAa'rrel lying perfectly smooth, even to
+ 800 rom It's nose to the tip of its tail. |
noted all this on the spot. This over ri
oOuHut INV = -
satlsfaetion; but having met INV friend NJ
James Perry, on whose lands n Ion;a;a ~
l WAS then hunting, and HAVING rals.o1i
what had just happened, he lanab;noi.,
said, Why, my dear sir, could bsra u Xxx
you this long ago, it being NOTHING new ' ~
5Us" These facts trust are quite sueio