BRANSON : SNAKES OF KANSAS. 355 



rowed drawings are taken from Cope's " Crocodilians, Lizards, 

 and Snakes." 



Only four species of venomous snakes are known to occur in 

 Kansas, but I think it quite probable that one other species, the 

 Water Moccasin, occurs in the southeastern part of the state. 

 The poisonous snakes are the Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus hor- 

 rid us) , the Prairie Rattlesnake {Sistru7-ns catenatus) , the Mas- 

 sasauga (Crotalus conjiuentis) , and the Copperhead (Ancistrodoii 

 contortr if) . Rattlesnakes are easily distinguished from harm- 

 less snakes by their rattle. All of the poisonous snakes found in 

 Kansas have a deep pit between the eye and the nostril, erectile 

 poison fangs in the anterior part of the upper jaw, and the 

 pupil of the eye shaped like a double convex lens. 



Little is known concerning the habits of snakes. Perhaps 

 more negative than affirmative facts are at hand, for almost all 

 popular beliefs concerning them are untrue. The number of 

 rattles is no indication of the age of Rattlesnakes. It is proba- 

 bly untrue that snakes swallow their young. Snakes do not 

 molt every time they eat. The breath of snakes is not poison- 

 ous. Many of the so-called poisonous snakes are harmless. 

 ( See list of poisonous snakes above. ) Habits, as far as known, 

 are given with the descriptions of the species. 



My thanks are especially due to Prof. C. E. McClung, under 

 w^iose direction this work was prepared, for placing at my disr 

 posal all of the herpetological collections of the University of 

 Kansas and for aiding me in obtaining specimens from various 

 parts of the state. I wish here to express my obligations to 

 Prof. F. W. Cragin for some valuable notes on Kansas snakes; 

 to Professor Popenoe, of Kansas State Agricultural College, 

 Professor Riggs, of Ottawa University, Professor Wooster, of 

 Kansas State Normal School, Professor Grimsley, of Washburn 

 College, and Mr. Rumold, of Beloit high school, for the privi- 

 lege of examining the collections under their charge. 



