Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-08-04
RuttIesnuke's Rottle
Described as d Song
Buzzins Of Reptile Is Held
Not as Sinister as Believed
By Thomos R. Henry

MOUNTAIN LAKE, Va.-Mountain
rattlesnakes sing rather than rattle.
The characteristic sound made by
vibration of the white tails Of these
sinister black-and- drown reptiles is q
persistent musical note, distinguishable
only by an expert from the sound of q
cicada. The only difference, say biol
ogists at the Mountain Lake station Of
the University Of Virginia. is that the
insect is little more versatile than the
reptile and introduces more variation
and rhythm.
ened snake Is far from the sinister
warning it is credited with being.
When one Of the creatures is captured
and placed in cage, the low. monot-
onous cicadalike music will continue
for as much as three hours. Then, for
few days. it will be resumed every
time human appears near the cage.
Have Become Scarce.
Until few years age rattlesnakes
were numerous in this rocky corner Of
the Blue Ridge Mountains. For many
summers their ways of life have been
studied by University of Virginia biol
reason, they are growing scarce and 1t
has been difficult to obtain specimens
this summer. The primary cause, the
University Of Virginia biologists believe.
is that there has been considerable
increase in deer, the most potent en-
emies Of the reptiles. The deer is prac-
tically immune to the fangs and quickly
tramples to death any serpent which
comes into its path.
The scarcity has led to new ruseS for
attracting rattleSnakes-one of which
is initiating the calls of various varieties
of nesting birds. These are the favorite
food of the reptiles. The calls, which
the snakes apparently are unable to
distinguish from the real thing, bring
them out of rock retreats where there
has been no evidence of their existence.
Seen at close hand, the University
OF Virginia biologists say, the dreaded
Serpents may become quite engaging
creatures. They make love and mate.
They engage in sportive showing
matches with each other. A family, al
though there is no evidence of recog-
milton of kinship, probably returns to
the same den every winter.
Have Limited Range.
Their range, studies here show, is
quite limited. They forage in irregular
circles, starting from some spot near
their den and returning to essentially
the same place. 1t now appears, some Of
the observations indicate, that an ac-
tive male RATHER will move over rough
circle of about mile month, seeking
its prey of rats. rabbits and chipmunks.
1t repeats the same circle three of four
times before the autumn frosts drive
it indoors for its winter Information.
Each time it starts its route over again
the small mammals on which it feeds
have returned.
The poison fangs of the rattler, the
Virginia biologists say, probably are in
tended primarily for defense. With
lightninglike speed the reptile strikes
its prey. The small mammal lives, at
the most, only minute or so. 1t may,
however, run for some distance before
1t dies. The snake apparently follows it
by the characteristic scent.
1t is highly unlikely, the studies here
indicate, that rattler would eat any,
thing which it was not sure it had
killed itself within matter of minutes.
It can swallow an animal five or six
times the size Of it's own head. Despite
some evidence of social life under
some circumstances, each RATHER is a
solitary hunter. living entirely by its
own wits.
Avoids the Sun.
It is rather lazy animal During the
heat of the day it remains in the cool
shade of rock shelter but comes out to
forage in the late afternoon and eve
ming. 1t is quite unlikely that it is
abroad much after dusk since it de-
ponds on keen eyesight for accurate
aim.
Evidence that the reptiles winter in
the same dens year after year still is
somewhat unconvincing, but there is a
high probability that this is the case,
according to the Virginia University
biologists. This is due in part to the
relative scarcity of suitable dens, even
among the tumbled boulders of this
wild countryside. The snake must find
crevice in the rocks that enables it
to get below the frost line. Otherwise
there is little possibility that it could
survive the months of Information when
it eats nothing and probably never
moves.