Democratic Sentinel, Volume 12, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 March 1888 — An Erroneous Idea About Rattlesnakes. [ARTICLE]

An Erroneous Idea About Rattlesnakes.

As to the cussedness of the rattlesnake I would like to correct a very common error. These otherwise dangerous reptiles always give warning, •and never bite unless roughly trod upon, or incautiously caught with tne hand. On a cold, rainy, or damp day, when partially torpid, they give no alarm, and will not bite under any circumstances. A man may take them up and fold them around his neck without harm. The same may be done at other times, but the performer must be extremely cautious. He may touch any part of the snake’s body, except the tail or rattles. The rattler has a wellknown, but unwritten law: “Thou shalt not suffer any man to touch thy tail, or thy rattles, on pain of death to the offender.” Observing this law, an expert may handle one of these reptile (monsters almost any time with absolute impunity. It is needless to say, however, that I do not recommend such performance as an every-day exercise. Even an unloaded gun will sometimes go off unexpectedly.-— Philadelphia Press.