Hurter — Herpetology of Missouri. 205 



rows, strongly keeled. Ventrals 130-147. Anal entire. Subcaudals 

 39-48, more or less of which are undivided. The end of the tail with 

 a sharp nail. 



Color. — Color above brown to blackish, with about eleven transverse 

 black bands alternating with as many brown bands, the latter widen- 

 ing on the back and with a dusky center, the black bands widening 

 at the sides and often with a brown area in the expanded lateral 

 portion. Sometimes uniform blackish brown, with numerous black 

 blotches beneath, black posteriorly. Head uniform brown or black 

 above, with a wide black band, edged above with brown and below 

 with yellow, extending from the eye over the angle of the mouth and 

 terminating on the neck. Tail uniform black, or with a few pale spots 

 beneath, posteriorly, sometimes banded. (Garman.) 



In the young of the Cotton Mouth the colors are brighter and the 

 pattern more distinct. 



Size. — ^A. E. Brown gives the size of a very large specimen as 1550 

 mm. long and 250 mm. in circumference. 



Habitat. — From Southwest Virginia, south throughout 

 Florida, to Texas and the Rio Grande. It ascends the 

 Mississippi to southeast Missouri, and the Ohio to the 

 "Wabash River. Missouri localities: — Butler, Stoddard, 

 and Dunklin Counties. 



The late Mr, Specking, at one time teacher in a country 

 school at Delta, Cape Girardeau Co., assured me that 

 the Cotton Mouth was plentiful in the cypress swamps of 

 that neighborhood. Mr. W. S. Savage of Monteer, Shan- 

 non Co., enumerates the Cotton Mouth from Shannon 

 County. 



Habits. — The name "Water Moccasin," properly be- 

 longing to this species, is often applied to the common 

 Water Snake in parts of Missouri where the ' ' Water Moc- 

 casin" does not occur. This mistake can easily be made 

 as the two species resemble each other somewhat, espe- 

 cially old specimens. In the "Sunken Lands" of Mis- 

 souri the Water Moccasin is abundant along the water 

 courses. It may be seen on hot days basking in the sun 

 on water plants. When disturbed it opens its mouth, 

 which is mostly white on the inside. This has given rise 

 to the popular name "Cotton Mouth." It vibrates its 



