276 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. 



Habitat. — From Pennsylvania to Florida west to Min- 

 nesota and south to Texas. Missouri localities : — St. 

 Louis, Jefferson, St. Francois, Washington, Shannon, 

 Oregon, Howell, Stone, Jackson, Gasconade, Crawford, 

 Franklin, St. Charles, Warren, Montgomery, Pike, Lewis, 

 and Randolph Counties. In Illinois, St. Clair, Madison, 

 Monroe, and Randolph Counties. 



Habits. — The Blowing Adder is a clumsy looking snake, 

 much feared by the farmers, who can hardly be persuaded 

 that it is not poisonous. It lives near springs and creeks, 

 where it finds its food — toads and frogs. When disturbed 

 it flattens out its head and the anterior part of the body, 

 giving it quite a dangerous appearance. It hisses loudly, 

 from which fact it takes its name "Blowing Adder." 

 When teased it often feigns death, turning on its back 

 and remaining motionless for quite a while. It repeats 

 this operation as long as there is danger or it is being 

 tormented. Specimens that I had in captivity laid a num- 

 ber of eggs, 31 mm. long by 18 mm. diameter. 



Dates of capture. — April 12, October 14. 



Melanistic Variety of Heterodon platirhinos. 

 Heterodon niger, Scytale niger, Vipera nigra. 



Description. — ^Same as for Heterodon platirhinos. 



Color. — The color above is dark brown to black, beneath dirty white 

 to yellov/ish. The lower side of the tail is always yellow. Sometimes 

 the faint markings on the back of H. platirhinos can be perceived. 



Habitat. — Same as for H. platirhinos. Missouri locali- 

 ties:— Stone, Howell, Jackson, and Crawford Counties, 

 and in Illinois Madison County. 



Habits.— Same as for H. 2)latirhinos. I have never 

 found a dark young specimen. The variety is oviparous. 

 The eggs are 30 mm. long by 18 mm. diameter. 



Genus elaphe. 



Maxillary teeth 12 to 22, subequal in size. Anterior mandibular teeth 

 the longest. Head distinct from the neck, elongate. Eye rather large. 



