The Moccasins 



unlike the innocuous Water Snakes, does not confine its diet to 

 cold-blooded prey, but feeds also upon birds and small mammals. 



In captivity there are few or no reptiles more hardy than the 

 Moccasin. The writer has specimens which have been captive 

 for more than eleven years, and promise to flourish for an indefi- 

 nite time. Some of these snakes were captive born and have 

 grown to great size, owing to a regular supply of food and the 

 absence of the hibernating period, which tends to limit a reptile's 

 growth. These specimens never show the least intimations of 

 hostility, and in fact the general demeanour of this species of 

 snake when removed from a wild state is a lazy indifference 

 to everything but food. They live well with no other water 

 than contained in a small drinking dish, and usually congregate 

 in social clusters with heads protruding in all directions from 

 the mass of tangled bodies. With other snakes of equal, or 

 even larger, size they are generally quarrelsome. Smaller snakes 

 of other species are usually eaten, while many young Moccasins 

 may be in the cage with the adults and escape all molesta- 

 tion. The pugnacious attitude of the Moccasin toward other 

 snakes was well illustrated by the escape from a cage in the writer's 

 collection of a specimen of moderate size. This reptile prowled 

 about the "snake room" until, prompted by a spirit of curiosity 

 or seeking a place to hide, it entered the ventilating apparatus 

 and into the cage of a large South American Anaconda. There 

 it battled with the big constrictor, biting him in a dozen places. 

 The catastrophe occurred during the night. Morning revealed 

 the presence of the moccasin, quietly coiled in the quarters of 

 the anaconda, and the twelve-foot serpent lay contorted and 

 dead after its struggles against the action of the formidable virus 

 of its diminutive adversary, a snake of less than four feet. 



Captive Moccasins feed upon small rabbits, rats, birds, 

 fishes and frogs. Rabbits and large rats seem to greatly excite 

 these snakes. They strike many times, and wildly, as if in fear 

 of being attacked by the animals. With smaller creatures 

 they do not strike, and then await the death of the animal from 

 the poison, as is characteristic with most Crotaline snakes in 

 captivity, but once seizing the animal they retain their hold, 

 with fangs deeply imbedded, until its struggles have ceased, 

 when swallowing commences. It is the opinion of the writer 

 that all of the poisonous snakes feed in this manner when wild, 



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