Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, W.T. [i.e. Wis.]) 1843-1844, 1843-08-05


ed TO consult was that of drink, in which he
INDUCED most abundan,,y. plungiog his head
into the water furnished him, and swallowing
large draughts at time.
When in state of excitement, he would
violently aglta'e his tail, giving forth that
noise OF the rattle which inspires so much ter
TOR in his natural wilds, amongs, all the beasts
Of the field; and looking with that inten, of
purpose, to which some people fancifully as
cribs fascination, would dart on the object
which disPleased him, with the rapidly of
lightning. There is peculiarly in the slruc.
ture OF this serpenrs mouth which had fire..
quent opportunity Of observing. The fangs
are bent inward to such an extent, that, 10 en-
able him to make use oftEem, it is necessary
that the upper jaw should be thrown very far
back. Thus. when he inlends to bite, moth.
ing can equal the extraordinary appearance of
his mouth so expanded. 1t absolutely ap-
pears as if his head were half off.
When he was laying at his length, il ven-
iured TO come near 10 threaten him with my
finger; OF with any other object. passing brisk
y over the wire OF the cage, ] used to zee him
prepare for defence gathering his folds into
spiral form, which frequently became double
spiral, one of which being formed by the low
er half OF the body, in the middle Of which
his rattle was perpendicular vibrating. the
other in an inverted way by the upper part. but
this incompletely terminated, on account of the
position of his head, which.hs turned against
the middle of his body, as if he would there
take point d. appui to overlook the object by
which he was disturbed.
This animal remained thus enclosed for near.
" one year, without taking any food whatever,
7 ~f III H.
In the Spring Of l94l, he changed his skin,
or rather epdermis, by which was enabled
to remark how he increased the number of rings
in his rattle. There were ten Of these when
bought him; on this event occurring, num-
bered eleven. The last fragments remaining
of the old epidermis were stuck TO the new
rattle. 1t is very we'll known that these APP
pendages are continuation of tire epidermis
in the ratllesnake. as the nails are continue.
ton Of the epidermis in man.
During his captivity, two long venomous
fangs had replaced those which l had at first
torn out.
After his death, stuffed him and preserved
BIN in . glass case. put him in the position
Of the double spiral, which was habitual to him
when, Le was excited, and gave him as near
ly as possible, his exact attitude when he dis
posed himself TO dar, forward. opening very
wide his vast mouth of resplendsnt Wilderness;
showing his threatening fangs on both sides
Of the upper law, and on the outside the mo-
iion Of projection and retraclion of his narrow
forked tongue, darling with an extreme rapidi-
| y through gutter in the middle of the inferi-
or jaw his head being elevated two or three
inches from the ground; his neck resting :
gainst The middle Of his body, as if he would
hereby be assured Of the violence of his shock;
his eyes fixed and glowing his eauda rattle
PerPendicularly erect. and aglated by its start.
ling and terrifying vibration.
| Having had frequent opportunities of talk
ing about this animal with my friends and wis.,
tiers in the country, learned many peculiari-
ties Of the habits and instinct Of his kind.
The ral,lesnake, whether met with in his
excursions on the ground. OF surprised in his
private recesses, unless provoked, either on
purpose or through inadvertance, is never the
aggressor. /, is on this account tina, the pru-
dent hunter rarely leaps over the trunk of a
fallen tree, for fear of alighiing on or near one
of these formidable reptiles; which, by the by,
are happily not often encountered in this par,
Of Louisiana. The custom is to ge, on the
trunk and pass on to the other side-s very
necessary act Of sound discretion. Every one
knows the danger of lis bite, which, in certain
circumstances. causes death in less than an
hour. One of my friends. DR.. D., Creole
physician, practising 10 the country, lately and
successfully treated patient, who had been
grievously bitten. | will invite him TO give
the public an accoun, Of The means which he
employed in curing the patient, or if he prefer
il, give. myself, description oft in his name.
Another physician. one Of my intimate
friends, passed night in state of great per-
plexiiy, of which the following account may
give the reader some idea. He had, like me,
entertained the desire of observing the partic-
ula' ways of these terrible reptiles, kept in
cage, and succeeded in furnishing himself with
four of them, of various sizes. For fear Of
some accident on account of The negligence Of
his negroes, he had placed the cage which in
closed them, 10 a spacious room, which he
made his bed-chamber. A negro was select
ed to feed and attend 10 them. 1t was my
friends custom, on his return home. TO take a
glance at his animals. TO assure himself of their
being properly fed and their cage door being
well shut. One night. having come home
very late and tired, he neglected This precaa-
ton and went to bed. The weather was very
hot. and notwithstanding his state Of fatigue.
several hours glided away without his obtain
ing any sleep He suddenly heard a light.
sliding noise on the floor along the wall Of the
apartment, which left off very soon, and he
ceased to give any more attention to the cir
cumstance. After some moments. the same
noise revived. and be then cautiously looked
out of bed TO ascertain what might be the
cause of it. The moonlight shining full into
the room, he observed the largest Of the snakes
The had Is ratiles1 roaming free along the floor.