The St. Johns herald., 1889-12-05
THE DEADLY RATHER.
Proof Positive That It Eas the
 Power tc Chan
Tough but True Instances of tise 1saiefal Infiueaec of Fts Eye-:iogs, Deer aud Hats si.s Only Creatures
 EE Fears.

Do believe ratt!os2akes arc able to charm birds and anina.sg' sad 6 naturalist of local reputation. That is a question that has beer asked from time cut cf mind, and answered both negatively and anirmatively. Judging from my observations and experiments l an prepared to say positively that l do believe the ratblesnake can charm CT mesnerizo O. p4ralyze, or whatever is tho most correct term for the condi- ten t brings upon it's subjects, and that it can not only charm birds and animals, but that there is not man living who can long withstand the ter rible fascination of the rattlesnake's eye if he cares to lest his ability by gazing into the eye when the reptile is excited and angry, using Q 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 a terribly malignant expression, and one that will make tho most indifferent observer turn cold. When the reptile is alive and quiyeriBg wish excitement, his brill iant length coiled like Q painted spiral, the fat, vicious head raised and curved above tho folds, and the far-sounding rattle vibrating as rapid ly as humming bird s 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 l 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.
 "I would like to see the man who can look upon the eye of an angercd rat tlesnake through a strong glass, ono that will draw tho reptile apparently as close as Q foot or so to the observer, and retain his gaze more than min ute without feoling himself irresisl- ibly fascinated by the terror of it, aa indescribable disinciination to with draw his gaze in spite Cl the feeling Of horror the awful eye inspires. l have tried tho experiment score of times. am as strong in nerve as tho next man, and have been used.to hand ling and studying reptiles of ali kinds all my life, but have never yet been able to overcome the influence of the rattesnake's eye.
 ''I have seen many instances Of this influence on birds and animals. l re- member once 1 was fishing in the Juniata river and my attention was at tractcd by tho strange actions Of 8 robin that futtered and poised over a spot near the top of stone wall, which protected the towpath Of inc canal that runs parallel with the river for some miles. l approached the spot cautiously unti! l got within five feet of the bird, which paid no atten- tion whatever to my presence, butcon- tinued to frantically fuJtcr within two feet of tbe wall. Glancirg up l dis covered the cause of the birds strange actions Coiled in @ hole that had been made by the falling-out of & good sized stone from near the top O. the crudo masonry and directly opposite the frantic robin, lay rattlosnake, lis deadly head upraised, his eyes glaring, and his red tongue darting in and out ot his mouth like little jets of flame. The robin was unInistG6ab,y under inc in- fueGce Of the raGicsnake's mesmeric eye. It made frequent efforts to ay away uD and down the stream, but l: never got more than two feet either way. The snake turned its head whichever way the poor bird moved. and held It powcg!ess with it's awful gaze. Although I drew up So close that l could have touched the snake, tt apparently did not notice nc. so ab- sorb2d wys it in fascinating the robin. watched tne proceeding for 8 minute. and then drew ny revolver and shot the snakes head of. The robin fat tered few seconds longer, and thoi flew in 8 dazcd way and a,ighted On the wall not more than six feet below where 1 stood. It remained there foI It least minute. with is wing raised an inch or so, as you have seer birds on hot summer days. Then seemed to recover i;selt and Ge2 away. Thero could be no mistaziae the fact that this was 8 genuine case of ratt' 'csnake charming.
 "Ano;hcr ttmo I was wa;kinc thrcusb the woods ~a-a , say cAip