RATTLESNAKE

One of the most deadly of poisonous serpents is so called, on account of the peculiar rattling instrument which it carries at the extremity of the tail, and which is formed of several horny flattened rings, loose ly attached together, which move and rattle whenever the snimal shakes or niters the position of the tail. These rings increase In number with the age of the animal, and It 1031 [s. 1045]