Hurter — Herpetology of Missouri. 207 



Color.— Color above of a peculiar yellowish pink (in life), often pale 

 drab with a series of inverted Y-shaped brown marks on each side. 

 Beneath yellowish with a series of black blotches on each side. Top of 

 head often bright copper, whence the name "Copperhead." On the 

 sides of the head a white, yellowish band, which posteriorly rounds the 

 angle of the mouth and extends forward on the lower labials. Each 

 parietal with a brown spot. When born, the young snakes have vivid 

 sulphur-yellow tails. 



Size.— Total length 1000 mm.; tail 130 mm. Another specimen, total 

 length 990 mm.; tail 110 mm. 



Habitat. — From Massachusetts south to Florida, west 

 to Texas, north through Oklahoma and Kansas. Missouri 

 localities : — St. Louis, Jefferson, Shannon, Eipley, Howell, 

 Ozark, Stone, Johnson, Miller, Eandolph, Warren, Mont- 

 gomery, and Pike Counties. In Illinois St. Clair County. 



Habits. — The Copperhead is of rather common occur- 

 rence. It is mostly found on shady, rocky hill-sides, and 

 not far from water. It feeds on birds, small rodents, 

 frogs, and snakes, but becomes itself in turn a victim of 

 some other snakes, as the Blue Racer (see Bascanion con- 

 strictor) and King Snakes. In the spring of the year I 

 caught two middle sized Copperheads, which I kept alive 

 for observation. I supplied them regularly with food 

 and water, but they refused to eat. They held out a whole 

 year, finally dying of starvation. 



"When disturbed in its native haunts this snake will 

 generally make an effort to glide quietly away if escape 

 is open. If caught at close quarters, and flight be impos- 

 sible, it defends itself vigorously, throwing the body into 

 a series of irregular loops and striking in the direction 

 of the enemy. At such times a rapid, vibratory move- 

 ment is communicated to the tail, which produces a dis- 

 tinct, buzzing sound, if the serpent be among dry leaves. 

 Throughout all these manoeuvres the snake is usually 

 backing away in an endeavor to make a dash for safety, 

 by gliding into a nearby friendly thicket or among the 

 rocks. Like the moccasin, if held down with a stick in an 

 endeavor to effect its capture, it fights furiously, thrash- 



