The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-01-25
MYSTERY OF THE RATTLE.

| Call, Voice and Combination or All
These-Imitations by Snakes.
''Investigatio of the rattlesnake by
American scientists in recent years has
resulted in much curious, and, in in
| stances, valuable information" said
DR.. Thomas Stockton Baker of Johns
! Hopkins university, but there is one
/ important question still to be answered,
and that is, What is the purpose of the
snakes rattle? The riddle has long per-
picked psychologists, and probably Will
| remain unsolved until the end of time,
| if they continue to search for one soil
tary purpose which may be considered
of such significance in the reptiles
economy as to have effected the deVel-
opment of such a specialized part.
I'm attempting to explain the utility
to the snake of the rattle, many philos-
ophizing psychologists have signally
failed, for the simple reason that 1T
seems evident the rattle, instead of be-
ing useful or advantageous to the
snake, in most instances is dangerous
disadvantage, which has caused the ex-
tinction of the rattlers in Wel-inhablted
sections of our country. However, 1t
must be borne in mind that the rattle
was evolved long before man appeared
in the rattler's field, and the question OF
its great disadvantage in the conflict
between man and snake could have no
influence upon it's evolution, according
to the opinion held by many who have
puzzled over the problem. OF course,
theories are many and one scientist
who eventually abandoned the riddle as
impossible of solution comforted him
self with the moral reflection that it
was providential arrangement to pre-
vent injury to innocent animals and
man. But the history of evolution Is re-
plete with cases of animals which, hav-
ing acquired special advantageous
character, found the same turned
against them on the appearance of new
enemies because it could not be altered
to meet new conditions.
This mystery of the rattle has had
some queer effects on herpetoloGical lit
erature remember that Professor N. S.
Shaler many years ago announced that
the tail appendage of the rattlesnake
was not to be explained on the doctrine
Of natural selection inasmuch as 1t
could contribute in no way to the adj
vantage of the animal. But some time
after this positive decision he was
wandering in field, where he mistook
the rattleling of snake for the sound
made by the locust, and at once the
idea was suggested to him that the pur-
pose Of the noise was to decoy insect
eating birds into the serpents's range
by an imitation of the locusts buzzing.
Thereupon he promptly wrote treatise
on the rattlesnake and natural selec-
ton, in which he incorporated the the
DRY of the rattles serving as a food pro-
ducer. Other psychologists who had In
clined to Shaler's previous views made
Investigations on the lines of his new
suggestion and discovered a remarka-
BILE similarity ofthe rafting sound to
that produced by several species of
grasshoppers. They, too, were rather
favorably impressed by the theory Of
the rattle being q decoy, but few
whose Investigations also embraced the
birds learned that they did not rely to
any extent on their ears in searching
for delectable grasshoppers. Besides, it
was soon discovered that birds are not
especially esteemed by rattlesnakes as
a dietary article
Another theory which has many
supporters to-day is that the real func-
ton of the rattle is to assemble the
sexes, and many observations have
been put forward in support of 1t. Some
observers hold that the rattle Is used
to brighten the victim or aggressor and
paralyze his coinbative energies. But
the theory most commonly accepted,
perhaps, is that the sounding of the
rattle, instead of imperilling the snake,
is virtually means of protection,
and is of the same practical defensive
use as the roar Of the menaced lion. The
ability of the RATHER to defend itself
does not consist in it's size. superior
strength. or the power to prolong con-
fict. as most of its enemies are far
larger and stronger. Neither does its
poison act quickly enough to assure its
safety when attacked. but the certain
ty of the potsons effect Is advantageous
in preventing attack, and is q warning
which. enforced by the fierce rattle Of
the tail. is liable in a majority of in
stances to be effective, according to the |
of the snake
CDR. Steineger of the Smithsonian In
stitution. who has devoted much study |
to the poisonous snakes of this country, |
ss 1ai ~ " ss'p ssss ssse