The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-06-09
TIE uaSSaSaUGa.
A Naturalist's Story.
BY CLARENCE PULLEN.

"Uncle" Bellinger, as he was com- monly known in the neighborhood, was telling me of the massasaugas or marsh rattlesnakes reported to abound in the vicinity. Glad of chance to rest himself by talking, he had dropped the head of his ax among the brush wood he had been chopping, and wiped his face with the sleeve of his red shirt
 "They're little, but pizen," he said. "There ain't so many on lem now. Forty years ago when kim to Mich igan they wuz that plenty the now CTS in the dry medders had to wind their legs with hay ropes. The 'saugas' teeth 'ud git stuck in the ropes, and there they'd dapgle. A man 'ud git loaded down with snakes by the middle of the mornin', an have a time gittin' 'em off"
 "Did the mowers used to carry bottle 10 the having field in those days2" I asked.
 "Waal, we ginerally had some snake medicine along," said Uucle Bellinger, in tone of affectionate remembrance. "Whisky, they say, is a good thing for snake bites, but better thing is to live where black ash-trees are, and then you won't get bit"
 Do you believe, Uncle Bellinger, that it's true that rattlesnakes won't go near an ash tree?"
 "B1'eve it! I know it! Show me man that ever saw 'sauga in a black ash-swamp. Boys and women I'll go huckleberry in bar'foot there, and never think of snakes. You'd better b'lieve they put their boots on when they go berryin' in some places. Why do ye see ash trees planted in every farmers yard round these 'ere marshes2 Can ye answer me that? It's ter keep rattlesnakes from coming round. Morn onst Pve caught one of the critters layin' coiled up, and made circle roun' half of ash leaves and half of livin' fire; he'd go through the fire ruther than the leaves ev'ry time. tell ye ash leaves is pizen to 'sauga."
 Uncle Bellinger had enunciated, concerning an antipathy ascribed to the genus crOtdlus, popular belief most strongly endorsed by those who live in regions where they would nat urally have the best opportunities of observation in the matter. I was spending few weeks of the early summer in this rural region of Michi- gan, and had mind to study among other things a little of the habits of the rattlesnake, in connection with other matters of natural history to which was attending.
 1 bade Uncle Bellinger good-day and went across fields to the large farm-hous at which with several other summer visitors was staying. As passed the side door, my land lady, Mrs. Powers, had just bargained with baretooted country lad who stood on the steps, for basket of ber- ries which he proceeded to empty into a dish brought from the kitchen. As he did SD, he threw aside some green leaves that had covered them. kaArrs'
 Mrs. Powers remonstra'e ed with him for littering the yard, and he stopped to pick them up. But iu this purpose he was met by an em. phatic protest from Miss Ethel Dempsey, two years old, who having been attracted unnoticed to the spot by the sight of the berries, had taller to gathering the leaves, and already was holding them in her chubby hands and ai ms.
 At a movement of the boy to take them, she put up red lip in token oi an impending squall which caused him 10 desist, and turning indig. nantly away, she toddled with hel treasures around the house corner tc the front yard.
 As I stood moment by the steps talking to Mira. Powers, we became aware of 8 sibilation from some un- known quarter V histling rattle con- stantly growing louder and faster until it filled the air, and it was not easy to ascertain whence 1t came. The landlady, who had lived long in the