File:Reptiles and birds - a popular account of their various orders, with a description of the habits and economy of the most interesting (1883) (14749966044).jpg

Identifier: reptilesbirds00figu (find matches)
Title: Reptiles and birds : a popular account of their various orders, with a description of the habits and economy of the most interesting
Year: 1883 (1880s)
Authors: Figuier, Louis, 1819-1894 Gillmore, Parker
Subjects: Reptiles Birds
Publisher: London : Cassell & Co.
Contributing Library: American Museum of Natural History Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

View Book Page: Book Viewer
About This Book: Catalog Entry
View All Images: All Images From Book
Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book.

Text Appearing Before Image:
isposed in threetransverse rows, each formed of two scales. The males are smaller,much more brightly and markedly coloured than the other sex.The 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 Rattlesnalce, however,seldom exceeds two feet.—Ed. 73 REPTILES AND BIRDS. The under part of the body is furnished with a single row of largeplates. The Ratdesnake 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
Text Appearing After Image:
Fig. 19.—Northern Rattlesnake. of beans which still retain their seeds being shaken by the wind, thus giving warning of the proximity of this terrible enemy. The sibilantrattle of these appendages is not very loud, but it may be heard lenpaces off. Rattlesnakes feed on small mammals, or upon other reptiles.They 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 CkARMING 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 them.Audubon, the celebrated ornithologist, says that he has often metwith rattlesnakes rolled up in a state of torpor when the temperaturewas low. Ratdesnakes are revered by some of the American abori-gines, who know how to lure them from their houses; for it is asingular fact that this terrible animal is not insensible to

Note About Images