124 



high. Upper labials 7 or 8, excluded from the orbit by a number of 

 suborbitals, the second with a groove leading into the pit. Inferior 

 labials 9-10. Scales in 23 rows, strongly keeled. Ventral plates about 

 150. Subcaudals 42 to 52, all entire except the last 8 to 18. 



Spotted, with black, brown, red, reddish yellow and yellowish white. 

 On the sides and reaching up to the middle of the back are blotches 6 

 scales long of hazel brown, margined with dull red. These blotches are 

 narrow below, but run into the colors of the belly. Between these spots 

 are larger ones of smoky brown, sometimes with a good deal of chocolate, 

 and with dark margins and lighter centers. These widen below, but be- 

 come narrower toward the middle line. On the middle of the back they 

 either alternate with those of the other side or become confluent with 

 them, thus forming bands across the body. The end of the tail is black 

 above. Lower surface yellowish, more or less clouded with brown and 

 with large black spots at the ends of the veutrals. These cover the ends 

 of two ventrals and are separatod by the ends of three. Head above 

 reddish or copper-colored, this color extending down on the sides to the 

 level of the corners of the mouth and lower borders of the eyes. Below 

 this the color is cream yellow. Lower jaw paler, but with reddish brown 

 streak along the lower edge of the inferior labials. Length probably 

 sometimes three feet. Terreatial. 



Habitat. Massachusetts to Florida, west to Kansas and Texas. In 

 Indiana this venomous serpent, once abundant in most localities of the 

 southern half of the State, is now happily becoming rare; in most local- 

 ities it is probably entirely exterminated. Where, however, the country 

 is not thickly settled, and where there are abundant forests and rocks, it 

 may even yet be found in considerable numbers. About New Harmony the 

 collectors have frequently found it. It has been taken in Monroe County 

 (Bollman). Mr. C. H. Smith reports its occasional appearance in Fount- 

 ain county, and Mr. Hughes tells me that one was found, the first in 

 many years, in 1889 in Franklin county. In the northern portion of 

 the State it has probably always been scarcer, but still present. 



The habits of this snake are tolerably well known. Unlike its equally 

 disreputable relative of the South, it is terrestrial in its inclinations. 

 However, its desire for water to drink and the better opportunity to 

 obtain prey will often lead it to the neighborhood of ponds and streams. 

 In its usual movements it is a sluggish animal, depending more for safety 

 on the terror that it inspires and on its fangs than on flight. It appears 

 to prefer to lurk about dai'k and shady situations. Its food consists of 

 small birds, mammals, and frogs. It is itself devoured at times by other 

 snakes, as the black-racer and the water-moccasin (22, iii, 158; ^^, '77, 

 399). In securing its prey it depends on the deadly efiects of its poison. 

 Mr. S. Garman states that they usually eat the prey as soon as it is dead, 



