ClipArt ETC
"A device printed in Franklin's newspaper, the Pennsylvania Gazette, shows a wriggling rattlesnake cut into pieces, with the initial letter of a colony on each piece."—Webster, 1920

Join or Die

"A device printed in Franklin's newspaper, the Pennsylvania Gazette, shows a wriggling rattlesnake cut…

A flock of mocking-birds attacking a rattlesnake in a tree, which was threatening a nest.

Mockingbirds Attacking a Rattlesnake

A flock of mocking-birds attacking a rattlesnake in a tree, which was threatening a nest.

A rattlesnake's rattle, with twenty-four joints.

Rattlensnake rattle

A rattlesnake's rattle, with twenty-four joints.

A poisonous snake, known for using its "rattle" to warn off predators.

Rattlesnake

A poisonous snake, known for using its "rattle" to warn off predators.

"Rattlesnake is the English name for any species of the American genus Crotalus, the tail of which is furnished with a rattle. Garman enumerates 12 species and 13 varieties. The poison of the rattlesnake is usually fatal to man, though fortunately they are sluggish, and never attempt to strike unless they are molested. They are widely distributed on the American continent; but advancing civilization is rapidly thinning their numbers."—(Charles Leonard-Stuart, 1911)

Rattlesnake

"Rattlesnake is the English name for any species of the American genus Crotalus, the tail of which is…

The general name of several species of venomous snakes, so named because of having a series of horny scales at the end of the tail, which clash together with a rattling sound when the tail is vibrated.

Rattlesnake

The general name of several species of venomous snakes, so named because of having a series of horny…

"The vertebre of serpents are so formed as to admit a great pliancy of the body, which is capable of being coiled up, with the head in the center of the coil, and some serpents have the power of throwing themselves to some distance from this coiled position." — Chambers, 1881

Rattlesnake Skeleton

"The vertebre of serpents are so formed as to admit a great pliancy of the body, which is capable of…

This illustration shows the skull of a rattlesnake. ar, articular portion of lower jaw; de, dentary portion; bo, basi-occipatal; mx, maxilla, bearing poison fang; na, nasal; pl, palatine, the front end being represented by a dotted line as though seen through the maxilla; pmx, premaxilla; po, post frontal; pr, prefrontal; pt, pterygoid; qu, quadrate; sq, squamosal; tr, transverse bone.

Rattlesnake Skull

This illustration shows the skull of a rattlesnake. ar, articular portion of lower jaw; de, dentary…

Conflict with a rattlesnake. Caption below illustration: "The snake when about a yard distant, made a violent spring. Jervas caught it in his right hand, directly under his head. He squeezed it with all his power. Its eyes almost started out of its head. It lashed its body on the ground, at the same time rattling loudly."

Conflict with a Rattlesnake

Conflict with a rattlesnake. Caption below illustration: "The snake when about a yard distant, made…

"The prey of a serpent is oven thicker than the serpent itself, and to admit of its being swallowed, the throat and body are very dilatable. The bones of the head are adapted to the necessity of a great expansion of the mouth and dilation of the throat." — Chambers, 1881

Serpent Head

"The prey of a serpent is oven thicker than the serpent itself, and to admit of its being swallowed,…