Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1843-06-03
FSoss fhs % Soafhsrs SpoSfsaan."
ANECDOTES n PHYSIOLOGICAL FACTS
OF THE RAT~rLESNAkE.
Ss,,,a, q Ssa~ef,s.-E1 nst.,. crotalu, Houidus.

many features this terrible creatures peculiar phls
osgy.
At6rsi when the negro from whom bought him, oShib
ted him 10 me ON the ycrandsh my residence he had
small cord fastened round his neck. On my seeing him,
asked his fanRs had been extracted appcar from what
happened afterwards that my question badly put, III
understood. since the negro readily answered they had
To give complete idea the size and beauty OF the
creature took him the small wooden box in which
he had brought him feaessly detached the string
aud let him loose the ground The reptile began glide
sinnos, unduatng but gentle course, along the court
Seeing approach the limits OF neighbors plantation,
desired the negro bring him back for fear OF his tres
passing on unknown locality. obeyng my instructions,
tie man immediately Tccapurcd him, which he effected by
applying he fingers the back Of his head and brought
HIM again. then began To examine him attentive
y and having caused his mou, be opened, what
my establishment and concern in peroeving two long
aud terrible ang projecting from the sides oi his upper
thought Tor moment how inconsderate had been in
leaving him free for Instant However, sand
nothing but forthwith for a small foceps, and instant
" extracted them questioned the negro To his fear
esncs in seizing such dangerous animal seemingly with
the least precauon. lie replied that there never
any danger when the snake rolled up, preparatory
making spring had already heard of this peculiarly in
the reptile, but this the first occular OF its
being taken advantage OF that had experienced We pa,
hun n his abode paid the negro his price, aud he de
parted.
At frs sought diligently procure from him his usual
winch o small annlals' such blTtis,
the young Of abt, squiues but for the whole oi the
nme be was alive with never once knew him TO eat
The only appetite he seemed consult that drink,
IA which he INDUCED most abundany punging his head in
the furnished him, and swallowing large draugtsa
time.
When in a of excitement he would violently agl-
hs tall giving forth that OF the rattle which in
fprea much in his natural wds amongst all the
beasts the held and looking with inenness of purpose
which people fanciy ascrbe tascinaton would dart
the object which dspeasedhm, with the rapidy of light,
ming There peculiarly in the structure oi this serpent
month which had frequent opportunity OF observing The
angs bent inward TO such extent that enable
him o make OF them, 1t Is that the upper
should be thrown very lar back Thus when he intends To
bite nothing equal the extraordinary appearance OF his
mouth expanded 1t absolutely appears If hs head
half of.
When he lying at his length III venturcd to come
threaten him with finger, with any other OBJ
ec passing brisky the wire OF the cage used To
INN prepare for deience gathering his folds into spiral
FORM which frequently became double SPIRAL Of which
being formed by the lower half OF the body the middle
o which ms rattle perpendicular yibatng the other IN
inverted 10y the upper part but this incompetely
terminated of the position OF his head, which he
turned against the middle OF his body, hc would there
take point dappui To overlook the obectby which he
disturbed.
This animal remained thus incloscd nearly one year.
without taking any food whatever, (om 2oih June 1870
10 lth June lSil)
In the Spring OF sil, he changed his skin, rather
epiderms by which enabled 10 remark how lac IN
creased the number of rings in his rattle There ten
these when ! bought him; this occurring.
numbered eleven. The last fragments remaining Of the
old epdeunis stuck to the rattle Ii is very well
that these APPENDICES n continuation the cpl
denn in the ratesnakc, the nails continuation OF
the cpidcms IN
During his captivity, long ycnomous fangs had
placed those which had at irst
After his death, stuffed him and preserved him in n
glass put him IN the position Of double spiral,
which was habitua to him when he excited, and l
gave him, nearly possible, lis attitude when he
disposed himself dart forward, opening wide his
mouth Respondent Wilderness; showing his threatening
augs both sides OF the upper Jaw and the outside
ul Oi his
Cd tongue darling with rapidy through gutter
the middle OF the inferior Jaw; his head being elevated
three inches from the ground ms neck resting against
the middle OF ms body as he would hereby be assured
at The violence of his shock; his fixed and glowing
has eauda rattle pcrpendicunry erect, and agatcd By
startling and terrifying vibration.
Having had frequent opportunities Of talking about this
animal with my friends and vsers in the country learned
many peculariiies of the habits and Of his kind
The raicsnakc, whether with his Excursions |
the ground surprised in his private unless pro-
yoked either on purpose or through inadvertencc IS never
the aggnssor II this that the prudent hunter
rarely leaps the trunk Of fallen tree, OF aigi.
ing OF these formidable reptiles; which, by
tir Ly, happily often encountered in this part Of
Louisiana. The custom u get the trunk aud pass
10 the other sdca very necessary Of sound discretion.
Every knows the danger of It's bite which,
clTcumlucc causes death less than hour. one Of
my friends, Dr. d., Creole physician, practising the
country, lately aud successfully treated patient who had
been gTieyousy bitten will invite hun give the public
Of the which he employed In curing the
patient or he prefer Il, gIve' myself description OF It IN
hil name.
night ~ o great perpe1iy, OF which the following
may give the reader idea. Tie had LIKE me,
entertained the desire Of observing the particular ways
these terrible reptiles, kept and succeeded
furnishing himself with four Of them, various sizes
For fear Ut accident OF the negi.
,ence negroes had placed the cage which incosed
them, spacious oon which be made his bedchamLer
a negro selected % feed and attend 10 them II
friends custom on his return home, take glance
his animals himself Of their being properly fed
aud their cage door being well shut One night having
very late and red he neglected tins precauon
went to bed The weather very hot, and notwit-tau
ding hs Of fatigue, several hour gded away without
h- obtaining any sleep. lie suddenly heard light sliding
the floor along the wall apartment which
left of very soon be- ceased give any more attention
the After moments the noise
revived and he then cautiously looked OF bed
what might be the Of 1t. The moonlight shining
full into t. rOom he observed the largest OF the snakes e
had u nesl roaming free along the hoof leave the
reader imagine what his impressions this
pected sight, What was bee do ~ this casel loaded
was hanging at the extremity ct the room. How t.
reach IT,, the question Farther: this animal th,
only Of the cage, oil the others, too lber-
~ The whole Of the asleep. lie resolved
wait for the morning; but first took the precauOn
slowly aud carefully drawing up his nusqito curtains
around the bed afterwards he Down and patiently watch.
cd tie issue. The animal continued to make undua.
tory through the room; after which the Doctor
heard him approach the bed, and last oil became
We shall see, IN the end that he had place him.
self precisely under the bed had rolled himself up, and from
that moment moved no more. My object here j. 10
nlk OF the feelings which kept my friend awake all the
night.
coming according his custom tD perform his morning duty
The Doctor cried to him not 20 open the door but ro
Tor old African negro, named Isaac, who known Ia
approach these reptiles without fear. Tho latter arrived
entered confidently and, said before, the snake
rolled up under the bed The three others had remained in
the cage although the door openhs first a.
shut My friend insisted his shooting the snake
lsnao refused and ecarcd himself able the animal
without the least fear Of being bitten by him. IN effect
hc advanced io the bcd, wlstng softly with hs lips pro
n"uncur words be- English in n caTcs-ing tone and
lnen after Some minutes be- vcnured 10 pnss bis hand
ile uuck vt the snake, all the time trying soo1 him
afterwards, lifting him gently by the head whilst be- con-
hnu'd % whistle, talk aud sopth him, be- induced to ami
inn 10 place mW'll ON his and body. The snake ice
h' n'gr" carry him thus through the chamber without be-
traying cltor fright, any offensive emotion The Doe
ir asked lsaac 60 replace the reptile iu his cage- inns
tcf, thu b. impossible" says ho gf attempt d. the mako
would bc angry and hitc mc-iookr Indeed scarcely did
Isaac stop add lean ards the cage before te spiit