Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1891-02-06
THE CLUMSY RArrLssNAKE.
He Misses Mich Ortener than Ho Hits
When at Work.

Nhen Ht work.
Rattlesnakos are more poisonous in
print than in their native wilds. The
southwestern pa;ns abound in these
dingy reptiles, AID had ample oppur-
tunily to JUICE of their character and
performances. both of which fall below
report. The rattlesnake has Il short,
flat. wide head. Besides the red and
forked tongue. of which he makes dis
play when bullird. his mouth is un-
holstcrrd with two fangs which are in
the upper jaw. and correspond in posi-
tiOn tn the eye-tepth OF mankind.
These fangs in II serpent of common
size are about thrcp-Hlths of an inch
long and have slight curve like a
cineler and hook inward. They are
white in color. OF the diameter of n
needle and hollow from root to point.
Their root or seat is in a sac contain
inn the poison, which il lOOsened and
flows through the tube-like fang as a
result of the muscular eXertiOn of
striking. 1t does not dow. but sports.
and two tiny jets of poison Intended
Tor the victim disiill into the air every
lime the rattlesnake strikes and misses.
This last he does about four times out
OF five. for his Snakeship is rs clumsy
aud inaccurate rs woman with Il
rock. / have seen ono miss full
grown merinO sheep three times in
succession. In serpents rs in alligator5
the upper not the lower. jaw is the
one that moves 10 open the mouth.
The fangs. working on sort of hinge.
la Of l. nil n
when the mouth is closed and are pre-
scented for business by the action of
tnrowing back the upper jaw.
The mere fact of opening the jaw
ALWAYS disclOsrS the fangs without any
separate effort on the part Of the
serpent. and when the mouth Is closed
again two neshy envelopes. or scab-
barls. cover them from doing or re-
ceiving harm. This is necessary, as
Il rattiesnake's poison is just us bad
medicine for himself Us Tor any one
else.
These fangs have all the timber plia-
bility OF the finest steel aud can he
bent or put in any posture 10y little
force. but will ut once spring into
shape on being relieved.
As TO the deadly character of his
reptieSllip 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 u day
to "A moth. and their heads would he
come swollen and the candidates wouid
NOPE about the prairie in detected
way. but tnev came around all right
~ Il finale. never knew man TO
die, although | have known some few
tn get Sung. Whisky in n couiuus
way Ms IN internal aud II poulce of
pounded onions aud salt as an outward
application were all that was needed.
have known some toDerS, who knew
there was whisky in the wagons. to 20
about looking for the bite of II rattle
snake "a eagerly rs some anglers seek
bass jus. for tne glorious drunk that
was sequcntiai 10 it. Such persons,
however. are not common.
Some few people like snakes rs pets.
they will reu,uNe rattlcr's IangS by
breaking them off with silk handkrr-
chief, and so make the gentleman
harmless. To those hn NAV here
alter perform this feat rs n primary
step toward becoming intimate with
the rallleSnake. wisa tn say word
of warning. These fain'S are OF a
similar growth To the iinge nails Of
humanity. and when torn out. rra lily
replace themselves with a new growth.
Your pet Will he ready to do business
on the old lines in six weeks after YOU
have pulled his teeth; SO beware
hdHSdS Ctty Star.