94 TRANSACTIONS OF THE [1S90 



the tooth to a small oblong opening or slit near the point of the 

 fang, on its anterior convex surface. 



It is said these poison fangs are shed by a process similar 

 to that which takes place in the teeth of sharks ; they are also 

 liable to become broken or injured. 



For the purpose of repairing such loss, a number of other 

 fangs of varying size and less developed are found immedi- 

 ately behind the perfect front teeth. These smaller teeth are 

 unattached, lying loosely inclosed in the same capsule or 

 mucous fold and arranged according to size, the largest one 

 placed first and ready to take the place of the perfect tooth in 

 front should it from any cause be lost. 



I have found from six to thirteen of these supplementary 

 teeth on either side in such specimens as I have examined. 



The length of the larger or perfect fangs averaged a little 

 over ^ of an inch. 



Color. — The color varies from a nut brown to flesh tints, with 

 darker oblique transverse bars on the back and sides, the head 

 often being of a bright copper color, while from the vent to the 

 tip of the tail the color is much darker than upon any other 

 portion of the body. 



The under surface is whitish or of a light slate color, with a 

 row of dark spots or blotches either round, or of irregular shape 

 and size, on each side, numbering from twenty-three to thirty- 

 four in the row. 



The general coloring appears to agree somewhat with the 

 character and color of the ground upon which it occurs. Thus 

 in some specimens the colors are beautifully bright and distinct. 

 One adult specimen examined at New Market early in August 

 was of a clear, bright orange brown, with the diagonal dark 

 brown bands of the back sharply defined. In others the colors 

 are of a rusty, dingy hue, without sufficient definition to make 

 the characteristic markings distinguishable. 



The young are of a livid flesh tint, but more or less brown 

 on the back, the pattern of marking becoming more clearly 

 defined as they grow, and is quite distinct when the reptile has 

 reached the length of ten or twelve inches. As might be 

 expected, the color and markings are much brighter just after the 

 snake has shed its skin than at any other time. 



