They are generally found in meadows, pastures, and the edge of woods. They creep slovenly through the grass, and if surprised by the sight of man, they assume an erect and threatening posture, darting their tongue and swelling their head; but they do not attack men, unless alarmed and struck. They are considered more dangerous than the rattlesnake, because they do not give notice of their vicinity, and lie concealed in the grass; but they are easily killed, when assuming the threatening posture, by a slight touch of a cane, spade, or any other instrument. The effects of their bite is similar to that of the rattlesnake, and cured in the same way, by the prompt application of the _Aristolochia serpentaria_, _Polygala senega_, _Prenanthes serpentaria_, _Macrotry serpentaria_, &c. and other plants, bearing in consequence the name of snakeroots. This snake is found in New-England, New-York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, &c., and perhaps all over the United States. ART. XIX. _On a Method of Augmenting the Force of Gunpowder._ Extract of a Letter to the Editor, from Colonel GEORGE GIBBS. I employed, the last year, a man in blowing rocks, and having seen an account of a method of substituting a portion of quick lime for a part of the gunpowder usually employed, I was induced to make a number of experiments upon it. I now send you the results in the certificate of the person employed, whose statement might be relied on, even if I had not superintended myself a number of the experiments. "_Sunswick Farms, Oct. 19, 1817._--I certify that, having been employed by Colonel Gibbs in blasting rocks on his farm, I, by his orders, made use of a composition of one part quick lime and two parts gunpowder, and uniformly found the same charge to answer equally well with a like quantity of gunpowder. I made upwards of fifty blasts in this manner, as well as several hundreds in the usual way, and can therefore depend upon the accuracy of this statement. I found, however, that when the powdered lime was mixed with the gunpowder the day before, that the effect was diminished. It should be always used the day it is mixed. (Signed) T. POMEROY." This preparation was made generally in the morning, put in a bottle and well corked, to prevent the access of the external air. The rationale of the process was not explained in the original recommendation, but it soon occurred to me, that it must be owing to the desiccation of the gunpowder by the lime.