Book contents
- Frontmatter
- PREFACE
- Contents
- CHAPTER I HINTS ON FOREST AND PRAIRIE LIFE
- CHAPTER II THE BISON
- CHAPTER III WILD CATTLE
- CHAPTER IV THE WILD HORSE
- CHAPTER V AMERICAN DEER
- CHAPTER VI THE ANTELOPE
- CHAPTER VII THE SOUTHERN HARES
- CHAPTER VIII THE BLACK BEAR
- CHAPTER XI THE WILD HOG
- CHAPTER X THE PUMA AND CAT FAMILY
- CHAPTER XI THE OPOSSUM
- CHAPTER XII THE RACOON
- CHAPTER XIII WILD TURKEY
- CHAPTER XIV GROUSE, SNIPE, QUAIL, WOODCOCK, ETC.
- CHAPTER XV THE WILD FOWL
- CHAPTER XVI THE ALLIGATOR
- CHAPTER XVII AMERICAN SNAKES
- CHAPTER XVIII AMERICAN FISH
- CHAPTER XIX BEE-HUNTING
- CHAPTER XX A SHORT APPENDIX AS TO ROUTE, EXPENSES, ETC. AND WHERE TO FIND THE GAME
CHAPTER XVII - AMERICAN SNAKES
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 29 August 2010
- Frontmatter
- PREFACE
- Contents
- CHAPTER I HINTS ON FOREST AND PRAIRIE LIFE
- CHAPTER II THE BISON
- CHAPTER III WILD CATTLE
- CHAPTER IV THE WILD HORSE
- CHAPTER V AMERICAN DEER
- CHAPTER VI THE ANTELOPE
- CHAPTER VII THE SOUTHERN HARES
- CHAPTER VIII THE BLACK BEAR
- CHAPTER XI THE WILD HOG
- CHAPTER X THE PUMA AND CAT FAMILY
- CHAPTER XI THE OPOSSUM
- CHAPTER XII THE RACOON
- CHAPTER XIII WILD TURKEY
- CHAPTER XIV GROUSE, SNIPE, QUAIL, WOODCOCK, ETC.
- CHAPTER XV THE WILD FOWL
- CHAPTER XVI THE ALLIGATOR
- CHAPTER XVII AMERICAN SNAKES
- CHAPTER XVIII AMERICAN FISH
- CHAPTER XIX BEE-HUNTING
- CHAPTER XX A SHORT APPENDIX AS TO ROUTE, EXPENSES, ETC. AND WHERE TO FIND THE GAME
Summary
Description.—General colour greyish, with a number of lozenge-shaped black markings, edged with yellowish white upon the back; the tip of the tail black; the belly yellowish white; at the extreme end of the tai] a number of horny rings, or rattles, increasing in number, as is supposed, with the age of the reptile.
Length.—They are frequently found over six feet in length.
LUCKY is it for the backwoods' hunter that there are but few species of this venomous genus, and that they are all provided with the rattles, from which they take their name, and with which they give a timely warning to the intruder who may venture too near their haunts. The poison of the rattlesnake is extremely virulent; more so in the hot parts of America than naturalists, who have only seen the reptile in this cold land, can at all realise.
This warning sound has saved many lives; and statistics will go far to prove that, in spite of all our prejudice against the serpent tribe, the number of human beings actually injured by them is very small. The rattlesnake, like most venomous reptiles, seldom makes an unprovoked attack upon man.
The structure of the rattle found on this class of reptiles is very curious. It has been supposed to consist of a number of bones loosely contained in a horny case, the agitation of which produces the noise.
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- Information
- A Hunter's Experiences in the Southern States of America , pp. 315 - 340Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2009