, lately arrived from
Europe, show the same dread of these deadly serpents as do those born in
the country, so that nothing will induce them to pass within striking
distance of the creatures.

The wanderer through the forest starts back with dismay as he comes
suddenly upon one of these venomous reptiles, and hears its ominous
rattle when too near to escape. He must muster all his nerve, and
strike it with his stick as it springs; for a wound from its fangs will,
as he knows, bring certain death, far-away from human aid.

The rattlesnake, like others of its tribe in cold regions, hibernates in
winter; and as the autumn comes on, seeks some convenient crevice in
which to pass the cold season--generally in the neighbourhood of marshy
ground, where it can cover itself up in the masses of a peculiar species
of moss growing in such situations. The reptiles are here, during the
winter, frequently hunted out and destroyed. At that time, too, their
bite is much less dangerous than in the summer--the amount of venom
appearing to decrease with the increase of cold.

THE BANDED AND MILITARY RATTLESNAKES.

Besides the common rattlesnake, there is another known as the banded
rattlesnake, and a third species called the small, or military
rattlesnake. The latter is more dreaded, from being of less size, and
not so easily killed as the former. The sound made by its rattle is
extremely feeble, so that it cannot be heard at any great distance.
However, as we shall pay more attention to the serpent tribe when we
visit South America, where the rattlesnake is also found, we will wait
till then to inspect the formation of its rattle, and its other
peculiarities.

THE CORN SNAKE.

There are many more harmless than venomous snakes in North America. One
of the handsomest of its tribe is the corn snake, belonging to the
family of the Colubrinae. As it avoids the daylight, though very
common, it is not often seen in a wild state.

It is, however, frequently tamed by the inhabitants of farmhouses--when
it makes itself perfectly at home, and is even of more service than a
cat in devouring rats and mice; though occasionally, if a young chicken
come in its way, it may gobble it up. This it can easily do, as it is
of great size--varying from five to six feet in length. The colours of
its body are remarkably brilliant; the general tint being a rich
chestnut red, with large patches of a still brighter and deeper red
edged with black ru