Rattle-snakes in Wet Weather

Abstract

I HAVE had much pleasure in reading Mr. Frank Buckland's edition of “White's Selborne.” Among the notes on page 448, Mr. Buckland says:—“I know that rattle-snakes cannot play up their rattles in wet weather. The horn of the rattle becomes more or less saturated with water, and no sound can then be produced from it. By placing a rattle in a glass of water, and letting it soak awhile, I find this is the case.”