Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1897-11-04
RATTLESNAks BUTTONS.
Old Notions Exploded by Recent Oh
seryatfons.


Old Notions Exploded by Recent OBJ
servations-
Mr.. ID. l.. Ditmars exploded some old
ideas about rattlesnakes in a paper read
recently before the Linnaean society in
this city.
Among the specimens in my collec-
tion," he said, ARE two young diamond
back rattlesnakes, born in friends col
lection in Florida, and sent TO me be-
fore they had ever tasted food. Imme-
diately upon their arrival, a young
mouse was given to each, and as soon
as the little creatures were introduced
into the cages the snakes drew back
their heads in true viperine fashion,
striking the little animals, which died
in less than minute. After being care
fully examined, the mouse was seized
by the head and swallowed without
more ado. This happened more than a
year ago, and il is interesting to state
that the snakes, which were at that
time about Is inches long, with n small
soft button on the tail representing
the future rattle and hardly able to
swallow large mouse, are now power
full rattlesnakes over three feet in
length. with six rattles and feeding
voraciously upon full-grown rats.
"The following observations were
made upon these rattlesnakes: Born
September 4, 1895, length about Is
inches; skin shed for the first time
about two days after birth; one joint
of the rattle present, which is soft and
rubber-like and anchylosed to the tail;
the snake is unable to make any sound
with it, although it frequently shakes
the tail.
AS the time approached for the second
shedding of the skin the tail at the end
began to exhibit a slight swelling,
which grew gradually larger and larger,
and when uncovered by the old skin
proved TO be a second joint of the rat
tie All the succeeding joints have been
acquired in the same manner, the joint
itself not being visible until uncovered
by the old skin. After the second joint
was uncovered the snake was still I'M
able to rattle, as the new joint was soft
and seemed firmly joined to the crig-
inal button; but in a few days this
joint dried, turning dark straw color,
its previous color being black, and the
serpent sounded its first war note some
three and half months after birth.
I'm habits those snakes are much
different from moccasins, for while the
latter will eat frogs, birds, or rats, these
reptiles will take rats only, always kill
ing the prey before swallowing ii, while
the moccasins. to the contrary, seize
frog or bird. and. sinking the fangs into
the victim, begin to swallow il while
the creature is vet in its death strug-
giles.
"The interesting and valuable point
derived from the raising of these snakes
was the growth of the rattle. The
snakes were born with n soft joint on
the tail, and did not acquire second
joint until three and a half months
after birth. The number gained dur
ing the first year was five in all; thus
exploding the general belief that the
reptile gains joint every year and that
the age of the snake may be told by the
age of the serpent may be roughly es-
timated by the general shape of the rat
tie. For instance, the snake is born
with a small button on the tail and
gains on an average of three or four
Joints a year, each joint being larger
than its predecessor in proportion to
the snakes growth. Thus the rattle as
81 AS tfrn.a
wears on the old joints of the rattle be-
come broken and lost, but are being
constantly replenished by new ones.
After some years the growth of the
snake ceases (from his own observa-
tiors the writer would say between five
and six years. and the joints added
after this period are uniform in size.
Thus if the rattle is acuminate the
snake is still growing three joints for
year in temperate regions and four in
tropical ATTITUDES; but IL the joints are
uniform in size the reptile is an old one
and no conclusion may be reached by
an examination of the rattle.
AS conclusion to these observa-
tions let us sum up the more valuable
details; first. that these snakes are born
as fully provided with fangs and venom
as their parents; second. that the skin
is shed few days after birth; third,
the young rattlesnakes are born with
soft button on the tail and from birth
show the habit of shaking the caudal
fourth, that these snakes
reared in captivity eat more readily
than those captured some time after
birth. And lastly, that the colors are
brighter than on their relatives that
have been constantly exposed to the
mercy and tickle mood of the elements"
N Y Times