28 TROPIDONOTUS FASCIATUS. 



quently the old Tropidonotus fasciatus, before it has shed its skin, resembles 

 nearly Catesby's plate, with the exception of the fangs. 



Another reason for believing that the animals are identical, is that after twelve 

 years' search, both in Carolina and in Virginia, where he represents the Brown 

 Viper as abounding, under the name Truncheon Snake, I have never seen any 

 animal bearing the least resemblance to Catesby's figure, except the Tropidonotus 

 fasciatus; and my friend Professor Geddings, who, during a residence of some 

 years in the lower districts of Carolina, where he observed these animals closely, 

 is of the same opinion. 



The fangs of Catesby's figure, and the "bite venomous as any" of his 

 description, must go for nothing; for he saw the same thing and figured similar 

 fangs for the Black Viper, where they never exist, and which is now known to be 

 a harmless animal. If this opinion be correct, and the animals are identical, and 

 of that I have little doubt, then the Brown Viper must be stricken from the list of 

 serpents, and its synonymes transferred to the Tropidonotus fasciatus, as the 

 Coluber tisiphone, Scytalus tisiphonc, &c. &c. 



