. Reptiles and birds. A popular account of the various orders; with a description of the habits and economy of the most interesting. . disposed in threetransverse rows, each formed of two scales. The males are smaller,much more brightly and markedly coloured than the other very long and visible fangs are situated in front of the upperjaw. The scales on the back are oval, and raised in the middle bya bone which extends in the direction of their greatest diameter. * We have seen a Cobra thus spurt its venom against the plate-glass cover ofthe box in which it was kept.—Ed. t That the Timb
. Reptiles and birds. A popular account of the various orders; with a description of the habits and economy of the most interesting. . disposed in threetransverse rows, each formed of two scales. The males are smaller,much more brightly and markedly coloured than the other very long and visible fangs are situated in front of the upperjaw. The scales on the back are oval, and raised in the middle bya bone which extends in the direction of their greatest diameter. * We have seen a Cobra thus spurt its venom against the plate-glass cover ofthe box in which it was kept.—Ed. t That the Timber Rattlesnake of the United States sometimes grows to thelength of seven or eight feet we have no doubt; the Prairie Rattlesnake, however,seldom exceeds two feet.—Ed. 78 REPTILES AND BIRDS. The under part of the body is furnished with a single row of largeplates. The Rattlesnake owes its name to a remarkable peculiarityin its structure ; the extremity of the tail is furnished with hornycells, articulated one into the other. When the animal is irritated itcauses its tail to vibrate, which produces a sound like the dry husks. Fig. 19.—Northern Rattlesnake. of beans which still retain their seeds being shaken by the wind, thusgiving warning of the proximity of this terrible enemy. The sibilantrattle of these appendages is not very loud, but it may be heard tenpaces off. Rattlesnakes feed on small mammals, or upon other are oviparous; and, for some time after they are hatched, theyoung are said to seek a refuge in the mouth of their mother. Wood-land or prairie are selected by them, according to the species they CHARMING A RATTLESNAKE. 79 belong to, but never cultivated land if uncultivated can be found. Theshadow of an old fallen tree is often a lurking-place chosen by , the celebrated ornithologist, says that he has often metwith rattlesnakes rolled up in a state of torpor when the temperaturewas low. Rattlesnakes are revered by some of the Americ
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