Snakes: Curiosities and Wonders of Serpent Life

by Catherine Cooper Hopley

Dr. Elliott Coues is also of this opinion, viz. that to an unpractised ear the sound cannot be distinguished from the crepitation of the large Western grasshopper. A case has been reported, he tells us, of a bird observed to be drawn within reach, thinking it was a grasshopper. Dr. Coues also affirms that the sound has been heard when no perceptible irritation disturbed the snake.[87]

Thus we see that the ‘inadvertent intruder,’ so far from being warned away, is beguiled to his injury, both in the case of human beings not quick to discriminate sounds, or not having rattlesnakes in their minds, and with animals in their early experience who perhaps hear one for the first time.

Another question is, ‘Does the snake sound its rattles when seeking to capture prey?’

The editor of the American Naturalist in the volume already quoted, thinks they do not systematically set up a rattling for this purpose; and as far as observation of snakes in confinement can be of use, this opinion may be confirmed. Probably a captive snake may have learned by experience that, hungry or not, it must wait for its periodical dinner, and that its ‘dinner bell’ avails it nothing. Nevertheless, we do not find that the snake uses its rattle upon food being placed in its cage, unless the rat or the guinea-pig come tumbling unexpectedly or unceremoniously upon the snake, when it would sound its rattle in alarm; but it waits quietly, silently, rather receding than advancing towards the destined prey, and then, after cautious observation, stealthily approaching to give the fatal bite. Mr. Arthur Nicols, author of Zoological Notes, etc., has there discussed this point, but dismisses it by declaring he has no faith in ‘the dinner-bell theory.’[88]

Nor can the rattle be designed to terrify enemies or as a menace, since the sound would invite the attack of those very animals which the snake has most cause to fear, namely goats, hogs, and the large carnivorous birds that devour it. If, besides, it were used as a warning, why have the young ones, which are more in need of protection, no rattle?

Darwin, in the sixth edition of his Origin of Species, 1872, writes as follows, p. 162:—

‘It is admitted that the rattlesnake has a poison-fang for its own defence and for the destruction of its prey; but some authors suppose that at the same time it is furnished with a rattle for its own injury, namely to warn its prey. I would almost as soon believe that the cat curls the end of its tail when preparing to spring in order to warn the doomed mouse. It is a much more probable view that the rattlesnake uses its rattle, the cobra expands its frill, and the puffadder swells whilst hissing so loudly and harshly, in order to alarm the many birds and beasts which are known to attack even the most venomous species. Snakes act on the same principle which makes a hen ruffle her feathers and expand her wings when a dog approaches her chickens.’ This profound thinker, then, is one of those who include the rattle among ‘the many ways by which animals endeavour to frighten away their enemies.’

We may reasonably conclude that the Crotalus, in common with other snakes, also with dogs and cats, expresses a variety of feelings with its sounding tail, fear being the most predominant one. The Indians recognise its utility as a warning by gratefully abstaining from killing one that rattles. They superstitiously regard it as protective to themselves if not to the snake, and they in turn carefully protect the reptile. Backwoodsmen display little or no fear when they hear the Crotalus, and though they do not spare it, regard it with less bitter animosity than they display towards its cousin the Copper-head; because, as a facetious writer has testified of it, ‘it never bites without provocation, living up to the laws of honour, and by his rattles giving challenge in an honourable way.’

That the sound has a language of its own is known by the fact that when disturbed and one rattle is sprung, all other rattlesnakes within hearing take up the chorus. That the sexes also understand each other through crotaline eloquence is generally believed. In fact, to each other and to themselves they have, no doubt, as many variations in the use of their rattles, as any other animal in the expression of its tail; and probably all the above enumerated examples are at one time or another its legitimate uses. Those who have most closely observed them have detected a variety of cadences in one and the same rattle.