Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-07-08
RaftleSuak eS.

An American writer in the SATURDAY. Rerie,v
writes of rattlesnakes, giving this Information
about them. He says that If at night one car
eies lantern in an infested place. it is easy to
catch the CLINT, as of diamond, of the snakes
eye, If the lantern shine on it, directly in ones
path; but they are rarely in IT, and hence we al
ways threw stones at the noise when we could
not see the "eye CLINT OF the reptile; for if seen
one blow OF q horsewhlp, or a twi2 six or eight
feet long. always stopped the music and OF all
the arrant coward: one ever saw d "rattler'' is
the worst He just coils over and bites himself
or anything if switched a little, and then one
can step up and put ones boot heel on the
snake head and crush it, fangs and all. though
would not advise any one to attempt that ex-
plot as long their nerves were discomposed by
the rattle. Perhaps my. nearest danger was one
a train soon after daylight. NV house
had a beautiful natural spring some twenty
feet TO the left OF my front door. 1t came out oil
one, and was dug out and walled up like large
tub or vase OF water ever flowing over, whence
stream that went to the river. AS dipped the
water pail in the spring heard faint sound
that was half like RATHER. The hired man
went out ten minutes later, when the light was
just strong enough to see a little, and he saw
splendid "back velvet Oh the fiat stone within
a few inches of the water. Now, "biack velvet
is o RATHER or rattlesnake that has just moulted
its last years skin, and has in consequence "a
nice clean suit of clothes on" or its under new
skin, and they are very Timber and irritable at
such times. This "bIack velvet" was, of course.
killed as matter OF fact. every day exploit by
this man, for he did not think 1t worth while
to speak OF 1t at breakfast, as he was old set
tier, used to wrattlers since he was born. But
as was leaving for the railway saw the snake,
and must say it was one of the finest ones
ever saw some nearly tour feet long, with grace
full head and slim neck, and a body not as
large in diameter as they often are, but an inch
and half or two Inches through, and o
tail that sloped, beautifully spotted, to nine
glistening rattles that were yet gently buzzing
in the spasmOdic culver of a serpent's tail, as
CULVER as they do when just killed. I.opened
its crushed mouth, and it had keen, slim fangs,
three on each side of its upper jaw in a little
hood that covered them, and could see the
clear crystal virus drop out of them, with q
smell not unlike concentrated prussic acid or a
slight Odor of burnt garlic. Its mouth was as
delicate as its skin, having been shed or in its
outer epidermis with the rest of the skin, as in
common with the reptile family. OF course one
needs great care not to have the accident of a
sudden closure Of the mouth when looking at
the iangs and not to let them snap together,
because that might throw part of the virus on
an abraded or scratched part Of ones hand or,
what Is worse, into ones eye. And the very
thought of that accident will make the cold
sweat start out Of sensitive person all over
him. When it has been Invested of It's head for
safety against accidental injection Of the virus
and skinned. there Is no further disgust OF the
reptile but rather admiration. 1t even looks
as edible as . fine eel or fish, beautifully
formed.