Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1889-06-20
THE DEADLY RATHER.
Proof Positive That It Has the
Power to Charm.
Tough but True Instances OF the Balerul
Influence OF Its Eye-Iiogs, Deer
and Bats the Only Creatures
1t Fears.

do l believe rattlesnakes are able
TO charm birds and animalsp" said a
naturalist Of local reputation. THAT
is question that has been asked from
time out of mind, and answered both
negatively and affirmatively. Judging
from my observations and experiments
! am prepared to say positively that l
do believe the rattlesnake can charm
or mesmerize or paralyze, or whatever
is the most correct term for the condi-
ton it brings upon its subjects, and
that 1t can not only charm birds and
animals, but that there is not q man
living who can long withstand the ter
rible fascination OF the rattlesnake's
eye If he cares to test his ability by
gazing into the eye when the reptile is
excited and angry. using strong glass
in making the test
"Any person who is familiar with the
eyes of this deadly reptile ought not
to doubt that the serpent possesses the
power that so many naturalists deny.
Even the eye of dead rattlesnake, no
matter how long the snake may have
been dead, has u terribly malignant
expression, and one that will make
the most Indifferent observer turn
cold. When the reptile is alive and
quivering with excitement, his brill
liant length coiled like a painted
spiral, the fiat, vicious head raised
and curved above the folds. and the
far-sounding rattle vibrating as rapid
ly as humming birds wing, there is
nothing in all nature so dreadful in
its appearance as the eye that glitters
and glares above all this deadly
beauty. and / am satisfied that it is
not only enough to strike birds and
animals, but men, with irresistible,
horrible nightmare, from which they
are unable to arouse themselves until
some disturbing force breaks the
malignant spell.
81 would like to see the man who can
look upon the eye of an angered rat
tlesnake through a strong glass, one
that will draw the reptile apparently
as close as foot or so to the observer,
and retain his gaze more than min
ute without feeling himself irrcsist.
IDLY fascinated by the terror of it, an
indescribable disinclination to with.
draw his gaze in spite of the feeling
Of horror the awful eye inspires.
have tried the experiment a score o.
times. am as strong in nerve as the
next man, and have been used to hand
ling and studying reptiles of all kinds
all my life. but have never yet beer
able to overcome the influence Of the
rattlesnake's eye.
II have seen many instances OF thi
influence ON birds and animals. l re
member once was fishing in thu
Juniata river and my attention was at
tracted by the strange actions of
robin that fluttered and poised over ;
spot near the top of stone wall
which protected the towpath of tn
canal that runs parallel with the rive
for some miles. / approached tn
spot cautiously until got within fiv
feet of the bird, which paid no atten
ton whatever to my presence, but con
tinued to frantically flutter within tw,
feet of the wall. CHANGING up l dis
covered the cause of the birds strang
actions. Coiled in a hole that ha,
been made by the falling-out of good
sized stone from near the top of tn
crude masonry and directly opposit
the frantic robin, lay rattlesnake, hi
deadly head appraised, his eyes glaring
and his red tongue darling in and out o
his mouth like little jets Of flame. Tn
robin was Enthusiastically under the in
fuence of the rattlesnake's mesmeri
eye 1t made frequent efforts to a
away up and down the stream, but
never got more than two feet eithe
way. The snake turned its hea
whichever way the poor bird moved
and held it powerless with its awfr
gaze. Although / drew up SO clos
that could have touched the snak,
it apparently did not notice me, so al
sorbed was it in fascinating the robiI
/ watched the proceeding for minute
and then drew my revolver and she
the snakes head off. The robin flu
tered few seconds longer, and the
few in a dazed way and alighted Q
the wall not more than six feet belo
where / stood. 1t remained there fC
at least minute. with its wing
raised an inch or so, as you have see
birds on hot summer days. Then
seemed to recover itself and fe
away. There could be no mistakir
the fact that this was genuine ca
of rattlesnake charming.
Another time I was waikiki
through the woods when ] saw chi