54 NEW-YORK FAUNA. 



Color. Above copper-brown, which is much brighter on the sides. Across the bick are 

 about sixteen reddish brown bands, bordered with dusky, and becoming irregularly dilated on 

 the flanks. These bands or blotches may be traced also over the tail, which is dusky towards 

 the tip ; between these bands, are irregularly interspersed rounded spots of the same color. 

 Beneath, the abdominal plates pale cupreous, with a series of about thirty-five large, rounded 

 or subquadrate dusky blotches on each side, and alternating with each other. They become 

 irregular, and more numerous towards the tail ; occasionally a few dusky spots are interposed 

 between these series, on the centre of the abdominal plates. Head somewhat brighter colored 

 than the upper part of the body. 



Abdominal plates, . . 145-155. Totallength, 25-0-36-0. 



Caudal ditto, 35- 45. Ditto of tail, 3 - 5- 4" 5. 



The Copper-head is a vicious reptile, and its bite is justly dreaded. Its poison is considered 

 as deadly as that of a rattlesnake ; and an instance is recorded, where a horse, struck by 

 one of these reptiles, died in a few hours. It has various popular names in different districts ; 

 the most common of these are, in this State, Copper-head, Red Adder and Dumb Rattle- 

 snake. In other districts, it is called Copper-belly, Red Viper, Deaf Adder and Chunk- 

 head. Its motions are sluggish ; and when approached, it assumes a threatening aspect, 

 raising its head and throwing out its tongue. It chiefly occurs in pastures and low meadow 

 grounds, feeding on field mice, frogs, and the smaller disabled birds. Many vegetable antidotes 

 have been proposed against the venomous bite of this and the rattlesnake, but they all seem to 

 depend mainly upon their being infused in large quantities of fluid. Nothing is more effectual 

 than scarifying extensively, and cupping the wound. When the parts cannot be reached, 

 after the application of a ligature, sucking the wound, if long continued, is commonly suffi- 

 cient, together with copious draughts of oil, milk, or even warm water. Arsenic is said to 

 have been used with great success. In a paper in the Medico-chirurgical Transactions, this 

 remedy, combined with cathartic clysters, and frictions of oil of turpentine and spirits of 

 ammonia on the wound, is said to have cured four very bad cases arising from the bite of a 

 serpent. The arsenic was given in this form : Two drachms of Fowler's solution, with ten 

 drops of laudanum and half an ounce of lime juice, in peppermint, formed a dose taken 

 every half hour. From six to eight doses of the solution was found to be sufficient. The 

 debility which ensued was counteracted by continuing the remedies in gradually diminished 

 doses. The Prenanthes serpentaria or lion's-foot, the Alisma plantago or water plantain, and 

 the Hieraceum venenosum or hawk-weed, have each had their vogue as remedies against 

 this poison, but they can scarcely be depended on without the aid of the other remedies sug- 

 gested above. An interesting series of experiments on the poison of the rattlesnake will be 

 found in the Medical and Physical Researches of Dr. Harlan, to which we refer our reader. 



Although the Copper-head is found in the western district of the State, yet I noticed them 

 most numerous in the meadows of Columbia and Dutchess counties. Its geographical range 

 extends from 45° north latitude to Florida. It does not seem to occur abundantly east of this 



