1890] 



MARYLAND ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 93 



upon the part of the would-be captor, the animal instantly, 

 through fear or excitement, makes an etlbrt to strike or escape. 



The Copperhead usually strikes from a coil if disturbed 

 wliile at rest, but this coiled position is by no means necessary 

 to that act, and it is rarely assumed if while in motion its 

 progress is suddenly arrested. But in this case the head and 

 neck are more or less raised and well drawn back, while the 

 rest of the body is twice bent, somewhat like the letter S, and 

 is thereby furnished with a support to strike from. The jaws 

 are then also widely distended and the sharp points of the 

 fangs brought well forward, presenting a picture that must be 

 seen to be appreciated. 



The act of striking is accomplished with surprising rapidity 

 when compared with the usual slow movements of the snake, 

 and the head is quickly returned and held in position ready for 

 a second attack. 



In the act of striking, the snake cannot propel the head more 

 than one half the length of the body. 



The poison glands are soft and spongy ; they are placed 

 under the strong temporal muscles, which, when compressed, 

 force the poison out by means of a canal through the fangs. 



In appearance the poison is a thin yellow fluid. Recent 

 investigation, by Dr. S. Weir Mitchell has discovered this 

 albuminous compound to contain two poisons, which he has 

 called " venom peptone" and "venom globulin." 



The two poison fangs in front are attached to movable bones, 

 and wlien at rest are laid flat, pointing backward upon either 

 side of the roof of the mouth, and concealed in a sheath or fold 

 of mucous membrane. 



Owing to the mobility of the bones of the face, a capacity for 

 lateral as well as forward motion is given to these fangs, a fact 

 I have never before heard expressed or seen in print. 



While not recognizing the possibility of this lateral motion, 

 I barely escaped being bitten through the careless manner in 

 which I handled a specimen of the snake. 



The front or attached fang is supplied with a canal or 

 groove, formed by bending the tooth as it were upon itself. 

 Through this groove the poison is conducted from the base of 



