devourers, appears to me much more probable, as it connects together
various classes of facts. If this snake had acquired its rattle and the
habit of rattling, for the sake of attracting prey, it does not seem
probable that it would have invariably used its instrument when angered
or disturbed. Prof. Shaler takes nearly the same view as I do of the
manner of development of the rattle; and I have always held this
opinion since observing the Trigonocephalus in South America.]
428 (return) [ From the accounts lately collected, and given in the
Journal of the Linnean Society, by Airs. Barber, on the habits of the
snakes of South Africa; and from the accounts published by several
writers, for instance by Lawson, of the rattle-snake in North
America, it does not seem improbable that the terrific appearance of
snakes and the sounds produced by them, may likewise serve in procuring
prey, by paralysing, or as it is sometimes called fascinating, the
smaller animals.]
429 (return) [ See the account by Dr. R. Brown, in Proc. Zool. Soc.
1871, p. 39. He says that as soon as a pig sees a snake it rushes upon
it; and a snake makes off immediately on the appearance of a pig.]
430 (return) [ Dr. Gunther remarks ( Reptiles of British India, p.
340) on the destruction of cobras by the ichneumon or herpestes, and
whilst the cobras are young by the jungle-fowl. It is well known that
the peacock also eagerly kills snakes.]
431 (return) [ Prof. Cope enumerates a number of kinds in his Method
of Creation of Organic Types, read before the American Phil. Soc.,
December 15th, 1871, p. 20. Prof. Cope takes the same view as I do of
the use of the gestures and sounds made by snakes. I briefly alluded to
this subject in the last edition of my Origin of Species. Since the
passages in the text above have been printed, I have been pleased to
find that Mr. Henderson ( The American Naturalist, May, 1872, p. 260)
also takes a similar view of the use of the rattle, namely in
preventing an attack from being made. ]
432 (return) [ Mr. des V ux, in Proc. Zool. Soc. 1871, p. 3.]
433 (return) [ The Sportsman and Naturalist in Canada, 1866, p. 53.
p. 53.{sic}]
253