The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1889-09-13
THE DEADLY RATHER.
Proof Positive That It Has the
Power to Charm.
Tough but True Instances nf the BaIeful
Influence of Its Eye-HoSs, Deer
and Bats Tho Only Creatures
1t Fears.

"Do | believe rattlesnakes are able
TO charm birds and animals?' said a
naturalist OF local reputation. That
is a question that has been asked from
time out Of mind. and answered both
negatively and affirmatively. Judging
from my observations and experiments
i am prepared to say positively that |
do believe the rattlesnake can charm
or mesmerize or paralyze, or whatever
is the most correct term for tho condi-
ton it brings upon its subjects, and
that it can not only charm birds and
animals, but that there is not a man
living who can long Withstand the tor
rible fascination of the Iattlesnake's
eve If he cares to test his ability by
gazing into the eye when the reptile Is
excited and angry, using IA strong glass
ia making the test
ANY person who is familiar with the
eyes of this deadly reptile ought not
TO doubt that the serp0ut possesses the
power that SO many naturalists dony.
Even the eye OF dead rattlesnake, no
matter how long the snake may have
been dead, has a terribly malignant
expression, and one that Will make
cold. When the reptile is alive and
quivering with excitement, his brill
liant length coiled like a painted
spiral, the flat, vicious head raised
and curved above the folds, and the
far-sounding rattle vibrating ar rapid
IL as u humming birds wing, there Is
nothing in all nature so dreadful in
its appearance as the eye that glitters
aud glares above all this deadly
beauty. and L Am satisfied that it is
not only enough 70 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.
IL would like to see the man who can
look upon the eye of an angered rat
tlesnake through a strong glass, one
that viii draw the reptile apparently
as close as d foot or 50 to the observer,
and retain his gaze more than a min
ute without feeling himself irresist-
IDLY fascinated by the terror of ii, an
indescribable disinclination to with
draw his gaze in spite of the feeling
of horror the awful eye inspires.
have tried the experiment 4 score OF
times. j 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 been
able 10 overcome the influence of the
rattlesnabe' eye.
Il have seen many instances OF this
influence on birds and animals. re-
member once 1 was fishing in the
Juniata river and my attention was at
tracted by the strange actions OF a
robin that iuttered and poised over Il
spot near the top OF a stone wall,
which protected the towpath of the
canal that runs parallel with the river
for some miles. l approached the
spot cautiously until i got within five
feet of the bird, which paid no atten-
tiOn whatever to my presence. but con-
tinued TO frantically luttor within two
feet of the wall. GlaRcing up l dis
covered the cause of the birds strange
actions Coiled in a hole that had
been made by the falling-out of good
sized stone from near the top of the
crude masonry and directly opposite
the frantic robin, lay a rattlesnake, his
deadly head upraised, his eyes glaring,
and his red tongue darting in and out of
his mouth like little jets of flame. Tho
robin vas Enthusiastically under the in
fuence of the rattlesnake's mesmeric
eye. II made frequent efforts 70 hy
away up and down the stream, but it
never got more than two feet either
way. The snake turned its head
whichever way the poor bird moved,
and held it powerless with its awful
gaze. Although L drew up so close
that l could have touched the snake,
1t apparently did not notice me, so alb
sorbed was il in fascinating the robin.
l watched the proceeding for a minute.
and then drew my revolver and shot
the snakes head off. The robin hut-
tered a few seconds longer, and then
flew in a dazed way and alighted on
the wall not more than six feet below
where j stood. 1t remained there for
at least minute, with its wings
raised I'm inch or so, as you have seen
birds on hot summer days. Then it
seemed to recover itself and flow
away There could be no mistalzing
the fact that this was a genuine case
OF rattlesnake charming.
another time | was walking
through the woods when L saw chip
munk sitting on a low stump, every
muscle drawn to its greatest tension.
and the little animal gazing steadily
ahead. its eyes fixed and staring.
walked on. The chipmunk did not
move. l followed its staring gaze,
and saw a rattlesnake, coiled as they
always coil, and its eyes glittering
like little Goals OF fire. had my gun,
and quickly put az end TO the ser