We, The Rattlesnake

摘要

British colonists arriving on America's shores discovered a lot of inhospitable things. Rocky soil and nasty weather in the north. Malaria in the south. And eventually hostile natives everywhere. Among the many un-friendlies were rattlesnakes. Colonists on the north coast encountered the timber rattlesnake. Those farther south had to deal with the eastern diamondback, the most massive pit viper in the world. Britain has one type of venomous snake, the adder, and of course humans have known and feared various kinds of poisonous serpents through all of history. But rattlers? Those were something new to Europeans and uniquely American. Here was a deadly snake that, like most snakes, just wanted to be left alone. Yet if you got in its face, it would politely warn you before striking.