Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-03-27

threat OF danger the m0tner opens her
jaws and the babies, startled into
seeking the first shelter, glide down
her throat where they remain until,
all peril past, the maternal jaws open,
permitting the little ones to squirm
back to daylight. That the "cannibal'
species of snakes swallow and eat
their young on the least pretext is
true; but the rattlesnake is no can
nibal, and certain is it, despite the
most vehement protests, that rattle
snake does not swallow it's young,
from motives of protection or other
wise.
Instances are when, the body Of
RATHER cut open, from seven to twelve
young rattlesnales have wriggled into
the world. 1t must be borne in mind,
however, that rattlesnakes come into
the world like warm-blooded animals,
and that the mere presence of the
young, as may readily be understood,
by the mother snake. In truth, there
is every evidence that mother RATHER
does not care the proverbial rap"
what becomes of her young ones. Not
even recognition, much less friendship
or higher affection, exists between a
RATHER and her babies. You might
kill or steal litter of young rattle
snakes before the very eyes of the
mother and, so lorg as she herself
remains unmolested, she will not stir
even a rattle in their defense.
From the first moment young rat
tier enters the world he is independ-
ent of his mother and eminently able
to shift for himself Each young
snake is a full-fedged RATHER ready to
hunt and ready to defend himself
with the sting of death. Each fiat,
triangular little head is provided with
the long, sharp poison fangs contain
| ing the identical venom of the mother
snake.
| One of the fallacies concerning rat
tlesnakes is that their ages may be
estimated accurately by counting the
rattles of the tail. This is true only
| in part. AS a diamond back grows
older, the tip rings of his rattle be-
come brittle and worn until they final
ly break off. Only when the original
button of the rattle is still appended
may it be assumed that all of the
rings due to the tri-monthly shedding
are still present and that these may
be used in estimating the age of a
specimen.
Still another fallacy concerning the
tail of this reptile is the one that
when rattlesnake is killed it's tail
will continue to live until the sun goes
down. AS is generally known, for a
time after rattlesnake, or any other
snake, has been killed, the tail will
twitch and move considerably when
brought into contact with stick or
any other object; but the proposition
of the sun has absolutely nothing to
do with the time required for the de
parture of all signs of life. Scientists
claim that the movement is purely
spasmodic, exactly as are the strug
giles of a rooster after his head has
been cut off.
OF all the snakes, the RATHER is by
far the most intelligent, wherefore he
suffers most in captivity. AS q
geological exhibit he is housed in q
large glass-fronted cage where day
and night he lies on the artificial,
. warmed sand, so cruelty differen
from the sun-bathed desert with 1T
: thickets of Spanish bayonet ant
: groves of dwarf palmetto. And as diff
ferent as are the wild and the cap
tive surroundings Of the snake, as diff
!, ferent is the splendid reptile himsel
when seen at large or when viewed
in cage. The very spirit of tn
/. creature seems broken. He coils, h
sounds his rattle and he strikes a
whatever intrudes, but the vim AM
fire is extinguished with the artificial
home.
Two, rarely more than three, year
I a rattlesnake survives captivity. Il
+ his own grim way he actually pine
q away for his freedom. And rattle
snake dies as he has lived, alone
( without sign of weakness, withou
8 even struggle. To the farthest col
t ner Of cage he draws himself, coil
e his mighty body, turns his wicke
: head to the wall and rests his Chi
Q on his back. Once, toward the YER
I last, he raises his tail and, quiverin
! 1t, sends last, prolonged farewell
e Then the tail sinks and the rattle
t snake is dead.