28 SERPENTS OF THE NORTHEASTERN STATES 



traction of the masseter muscle against each gland vigorously squeezes 

 it, forcing poison forward and out of the connected fang. The fangs 

 are on movable bones and fold back against the roof of the mouth 

 when the jaws are closed. They are covered with a sheath of delicate 

 flesh which is forced back when the fangs are imbedded in any object. 



These pit vipers do not spring or jump at an intruder. They 

 strike from one-third to one-half their length, and almost invariably 

 coil with the neck in an S-shaped, lateral loop, ready to strike from 

 that position. They can as readily strike when crawling, for when 

 disturbed, the neck is usually kept laterally looped for defence. They 

 can also quickly turn and deliberately bite, without darting the head 

 from a loop. These local species never wantonly attack a human. 



All are viviparous, giving birth to living young to the number 

 of about twelve. 



Copperhead Snake 

 Agkistroclon mokasen mokasen Beauvois 

 (Figs. 26, 27) 



Coloration is vivid and rather characteristic, because of the sep- 

 aration and fair symmetry of the blotches. The body hue is pale 

 brown, pinkish, or light reddish-brown, with a series of large blotches 

 on the sides, somewhat like inverted Ys. These blotches are usually 

 of a rich, chestnut-brown. When examined from above, a number of 

 the markings will be seen to unite across the back, producing a con- 

 tinuous pattern across the body, the central portion being narrow and 

 broadening on each side, giving the outline of an hour-glass. The top 

 of the head is without marking, and often slightly paler than the body 

 hue. The undersurface is usually pale, pinkish-brown, with a row of 

 dark spots on each side. There is some pattern variation in intensity 

 of the blotches, which may be paler in the central area and outwardly 

 margined (very narrowly) with quite a pale tint, which accentuates 

 their intensity. 



Large specimens are about three feet long, but occasional four 

 foot specimens are noted. Curiously enough, the largest specimens 

 which ever came to the writer's attention were captured in the imme- 

 diate vicinity of White Plains, Westchester County, New York, where 

 an example measuring four feet and five inches, and approximately 

 two inches in diameter, appears to be a record for the species. 



The water snake and hog-nosed snake are sometimes mistaken 

 for the copperhead, because of their proportionately thick bodies and 

 gross similarity of markings. The poisonous species, however, carries 

 its points of marked differentiation in its elliptical pupils, prominent 

 cavity or pit between the eye and nostril, and greater number of plates 

 under the tail in a single row. The milk snake is also confused with 



