The Moccasins 



all these manoeuvres the snake is usually backing away in an en- 

 deavour to make a dash for safety, by gliding into a nearby friendly 

 thicket or among the rocks. Like the moccasin, if held down 

 with a stick in an endeavour to effect its capture, it fights furiously 

 thrashing the body from side to side in an effort to twist itself 

 free and often in its excitement unconsciously throwing a portion 

 of its body against the widely distended jaws with their sharp 

 fangs, which immediately close, inflicting a wound upon itself, 

 which is never mortal, as the venomous snakes are immune to 

 their own and to each other's poison. 



The writer recalls an experience with a large Copperhead 

 in the woods of Pennsylvania. Stopping to rest he seated him- 

 self on a large rock, partially covered about its base with a tangled 

 mass of vines. While carelessly swinging a foot against the vines 

 he was startled by a sudden buzz among the dead leaves, and 

 glancing at the base of the rock discovered a large Copperhead, 

 with head drawn back and tail vibrating, backing away by alter- 

 nately looping and straightening its body. The snake could easily 

 have struck the writer's shoes although there is doubt whether 

 the fangs would have pierced the leather. Nevertheless the 

 watcher remained quite motionless. Backing away and around 

 the rock the snake suddenly turned and glided for a heavy mass 

 of undergrowth, but it was destined to accompany several harm- 

 less snakes collected during the day. Here was an instance of 

 a venomous snake, in an admirable position to employ its fangs, 

 giving warning of its presence by the sound of the quivering 

 tail, then retreating from the subject of its alarm to seek refuge 

 in the thicket without dealing a blow. 



The venom of the Copperhead has been declared by reputable 

 authorities to be more virulent than that of the moccasin. Small 

 animals die more quickly after receiving a stab from the fangs 

 of one of these snakes than when bitten by a moccasin of con- 

 siderably larger size. The fangs are rather small in proportion 

 to the size of the snake as compared with the majority of the 

 Crotaline serpents, especially those of the warmer latitudes. 

 This characteristic also applies to the moccasin. The fangs of 

 the various rattlesnakes are considerably longer in proportion to 

 the general dimensions of those reptiles than with the two species 

 mentioned. By this explanation it is not intended to convey 

 the impression that the Copperhead is not a reptile formidable 



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