Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-01-21
nATrLHsNAKns.


an instrument attached to its tail, consis.
ting of series Of hollow sealy pieces.
which, when shaken, make rattling
or rustling noise. The number OF these
pieces or rattles are said TO correspond
with the number of years which the animal
has attained, and some travellers assert
that they have been discovered with thir-
ty rattles, though thirteen is more COM
mon number. II Is one Of tho most ven.
omous of serpents, and yet one that wo
cannot but respect, since Ii habitually
makes the most honorable use of the sin.
gular appendage with which il is gifted.
Il never strikes foo without first warn
ing him of his danger
In form it Is somewhat corpulent, has
fiat heart shaped head, and is supplied
with fangs, varying from half an inch TO
an inch in length. which lie hidden hori-
Eontally in the flesh of the upper jaw, and
are capable Of being thrown out like the
blade of knife. The venom emitted by
il is so deadly that it has been known 70
cause tho death Of human being in
very few hours, and TO destroy a dog or
cat in less than twenty minutes, and yet
we have met with some half dozen ia.
dividuals in our travels who have boon
bitten by the rRttlosnRke without being
seriously injured Horses and cattle arc
known to become exceedingly terrified ~
his appearance, and generally speaking,
when bitten, die in short time and yet
we once saw horse, which was only
troubled in consequence of It's bite by a
disease resembling the sourvy. The hair
dropped from the skin of the quadruped,
l.. L. u. III ~ aai
so. AS to the effect Of this poison upon
hogs, it has frequently been proven to be
perfectly harmless, and We know it TO be
the custom in certain portions Of the coun.
try for farmers to employ their swine for
the express purpose of destroying the
rattlesnake in(esting the land. The effect
of the rattlesnake bite upon itself 10 said
to be generally fatal.
In regard to the antidote Of this poison
VIC are acquainted with only one, which
is the plant commonly called the rattle.
snake weed Both the leaf and the root
are employed, and applied internally as
well as externally. This plant grows to
the height Of six or eight inches, has ono
stalk, and leaf resembling in shape the
head of the rRttlesnRkc, and is almost In.
vAriably found in those sections Of the
country where the reptile sbounds.
The courage Of the rattlesnake is byn6
means remarkable, and IL Is but seldom
that they will dispute the right Of way
with man who Is not afraid Of them.-
They are sluggish in their movements,
and accomplish the most Of their travel:
ling during the nocturnal hours. They
feed upon almost every variety Of living
! Ia tUl, hat
are not partial 70 water, but whom com.
PEELED 70 cross river or lake, they per.
form the feat in most beautiful manner,
holding their heads about one foot from
the surface, and gliding along at a rapid
rate. They arc afectionAte creatures,
and 1t is alledged that when their offspring
are very young. and they are disturbed
by the presence Of man, the mothers swSl.
low their little ones until the danger Is
past. and then diSgOrge them alive and
writhing. Another Of their peculiarities
consists in the fact that they may be en-.
tirely disarmed by brandishing over their
heads the leaves Of the white ash, which
are so obnoxious TO their nervous system
as TO produce the most painful contortions
of the body. When travelling At night
in sesrch Of food, or for purposes Of re.
creation as it may be. they have fashion
Of visiting the encampment Of hunters. and
il has been ascertained that the only way
Of keeping them At . respectful distance
} is to encircls the camp with q rope over
which they are afraid 70 crawl and it
has frequently happened to lIunterZ. in a
snake country, that on sWaking after q
night Of repOse they have discovered on
the outside Of their magic, circles ss many
as = dozen Of the charming creatures,
carefully coiled up, aud sound asleep. Il
is also related Of this snake that IL has the
power Of throwing of or suppreGsing .
disagrseable efEiuYium, which is quite
sickening TO those who come within itS
rnnge. asi
TURKEYs.-A good sized turkey should
bn -o,.tod tvyo lS,ra and a half or three