Fascination

Fascination (Lat. fuseino, 'I bewitch,' doubtfully akin to Gr. baskainō), an interpretation of the fatal influence of some serpents over their destined prey. Kalm and others describe how the rattlesnake fixes a squirrel with its lidless eye, and so far demoralises the victim that it drops into the distended mouth. Le Vaillant describes the convulsions and finally the death of a shrike, paralysed by fear of a serpent at a distance of nearly four feet. Dr Andrew Smith reports that the non-venomous South African tree-snake (Bucephalus viridis) gathers quite a circle of victims. Ellis notes the interesting fact that an object pushed between the eye of the snake and a victimised frog broke the spell. In spite of many observations which suggest mesmeric or hypnotic influence, against which there is no strong improbability, most naturalists regard so-called fascination as equivalent to fear. In panic animals may undoubtedly become paralysed or stupid, or lose the usual power of co-ordinating their actions. See EVIL EYE, SNAKES.