Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1833-05-22

CuriO us experiment on q rattle Snake.-The
following curious facts respecting the rattle
snake, are from letter of Judge Sam'l Wood
ruff, to professor Siliman, in the last number
Of the American Journal of Science:
"Some time in the month of August | went
with Mr.. T. Kirkland, and DR. C. Button, then
residing at Portland, to the Mahonning, for
the purpose of shooting deer, at a place where
they were in the habit of coming to the river,
TO feed on moss attached to the stones in the
shoal water. We took our watch station on an
elevated part of the bank, 10 or 20 yards from
the edge of the water. About an hour after
we commenced our watch, instead of deer we
discovered a rattle snake, which, as it appear
ed had left his den, in the rocks beneath us,
and was advancing across smooth, narrow
sand beach towards the water. Upon hearing
our voices, or for some other cause, he stopped
and lay stretched out with his head near the
water. 1t occurred to me that an opportunity
now offered to try the virtues of the white ash
leaves. Requesting the gentlemen to keep, in
my absence, watch over our object. | went
Immediately in search of the leaves, and on
piece of low groand thirty or forty rods back
from the river. | soon found, and by the aid of
my hunting knife, procured small ash sapling,
eight or ten feet, in length, and with a view TO
make the experiment more satisfactory, cut
an the. sapline Of the sugar maple, and with
these ,gands returned to the scene of action
In order to cut off a retreat to his den, | APP
proaced the snake in his rear. As soon as
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 com
bat
first presented him with the white ash, pla-
cling the leaves upon his body. He instantly
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 coil, and appeared to be in great anguish.
Satisfied, with the trial thus far made, laid
by the white ash. The rattle snake immedi-
ately righted, and placed himself in the same
menacing attitude as before described. now
presented the sugar maple. He lane ed in a
moment, striking his head into ,uft of the
leaves, with all the malice of the under fiends.'
and the next moment coiled and lanced again.
darling his whole length at each effort with
the swi,ness of an arrow After repeating this
several times, again changed his fare, and
presented him the white esh He immediate
ly doused has peak, stretched himself on his
back in the same manner as at the first applica,
ton. 1t was then proposed to try what effec,
might be produced upon his temper and cour
az by little aoggIng with the white ASH
Tu,s was administered. But instead ofarous,
ing hIm to resentment, it served only to ia
crease his troubles. As the fogging grew
more sever, the snake frequently sunk his head
into the sand as far he could thrust it, seeming
DESTROYS to bore his way into the earth and rid
himself of his unweIcome visitors.
Being now convinced that the experiment
was satisfactory one, and fairly conducted on
both sides, we deemed it unnecessary to take
his life, after he had contributed so much /,
CRAFTY our curiosity; and so we took our leave
Of the rattle snake, with feelings as friendly at
least asthose with which we commenced our ac.
guointance with him, and left him to return a,
leisure to his den.