Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-02-06
THE CLUMSY RATTLESNAKE.
He Misses Much Ot-ner than He Hits
when at Work.

Rattlesnakes are more poisonous in
print than in their native wilds. The
southwestern p aims abound in these
dingy reptiles. aud had ample oppor-
tunity to Judge of their character and
performances. both of which fall below
report. The rattleSnake has short.
flat. wide head. Besides the red and
forked tongue, of which he makes dis
play when bullied, his mouth is un-
holstcred with two fangs which are in
the upper jaw, and correspond in posi-
ton Ia the cye-teeth OF mankind.
These iangs in serpent of common
size are about thrce-lifths of IN inch
long and have slight curve like a
cimeter and hook inward. They are
white in color. Of the diameter of a
needle and hollow from root TO point.
Their root or seat is i'm a sac contain
Ing the poison, which is loosened and
flows through the tube-like fang as "A
result of the muscular eXertion of
striking. 1t does not flow. but spurts.
and two tiny jets of poison intended
for the victim distill into the air every
time the rattlesnake strikes and misses.
This last he does about four times out
OF five, for his Snakeship is as clumsy
and inaccurate rs woman with a
rock. / have seen one miss full
grown merino sheep three times in
succession. In serpents as in alligatogs
the upper, not the lower, jaw is the
one that moves TO open the mouth.
The fangs, working on "A sort of hinge.
are closed like the blade of knife
when the mouth is closed and are pre-
scented for business by the action of
throwing back the upper jaw.
The mere fact of opening the jaw
always discloses the fangs without any
separate effort on the part OF the
serpent. and when the mouth is closed
again two heshy envelopes. or scab-
bards. cover them from doing or re.
ceiving harm. This is necessary, as
a rattesnake's poison is just as bad
medicine for himself as Tor any one
else.
These fangs have all the timber plia-
bility of the finest steel and can he
bent or put in any posture by little
force. but will ut once spring into
shape on being relieved.
As to the deadly character of his
reptileship l can only say that | have
seen numberless horses. steers and
sheep which were bitten by rattlers,
always in the nose and head. and never
one died. They were sick from "A day
TO month. and their heads would be-
come swollen and the candidates would
NOPE about the prairie in "A detected
way, but they came around all right
as "A finale. | never knew man to
die, although | have known some few
to get stung. Whisky in n copious
way rs an internal and a poultice OF
pounded onions aud salt as an outward
application were all that was needed.
| have known some topers. who knew
there was whisky in the wagons, TO 90
about looking for the bite of a rattle
snake as eagerly rs some anglers seek
bass, JUS for the glorious drunk that
was sequentiai to it. Such persons,
however, are not common.
Some few people like snakes rs pets.
thev will remove rattler's fangs by
breaking them of with silk haudkcr-
chief, and so make the gentleman
harmless. To those who may here
alter perform this feat rs a primary
step toward becoming intimate with
the rattlesnake. | wish to say word
of warning. These fares are OF a
similar growth to the finger nails of
humanity, and. when torn out, reality
replace themselves with new growth.
Your pet will be ready to do business
on the old lines in six weeks after you
have pulled his teeth; so beware
h,mSaS CITY Star.