216 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. 



in 1860 by the Smithsonian Institution in Contributions 

 to Knowledge, entitled "The Physiological Mechanism 

 of the Bite of the Crotalus. ' ' This same paper was given 

 in a more popular form in the Century Magazine, Vol. 

 38, August 1889. 



' ' When the Rattlesnake is in repose and unmolested, it 

 sometimes lies at length, sometimes coiled, or wrapped 

 fold on fold in the loops formed by other snakes which 

 may happen to be in the same box. So soon, however, 

 as cause is seen for alarm, the snake extricates itself, if 

 among others, and at once throws its body into the coil 

 so familiar to anyone who has seen serpents, whether 

 venomous or not. Sometimes on the edge, more often in 

 the center of the coil, the tail projects far enough to admit 

 of its vibrating freely and with singular swiftness. 



"The head is raised a little above the rest of the body, 

 but not, usually, more than three or four inches, even in 

 large snakes. The neck and upper end of the trunk are 

 not thrown into complete circles, but lie in two or three 

 abrupt curves across the mass of the coiled body. While 

 thus at bay, in an attitude of singular grace, the long black 

 tongue is frequently protruded. Just before the blow the 

 snake makes a hissing sound, which is caused by the act 

 of expiration, and is due to the passage of air through 

 the narrow glottis. The snake is now ready to strike. 



"It has occurred to me that in telling my story it might 

 be well to show in a popular shape its results. To make 

 it clearer, I must first explain the mechanism which en- 

 ables the serpent to use its poison. 



"We have in America as venomous serpents the Rattle- 

 snake, the Water Moccasin, the Copperhead, and the 

 beautiful Coral Snake. India is pre-eminently the home 

 of the poisonous snakes. The Cobra is most abundant, but 

 the Ophiophagus elaps is the most dreaded, and attains 

 at times the length of fourteen feet. Unlike the Cobra 

 and the Crotalus, this serpent is viciously aggressive, anr? 

 will pursue a man with ability. 



"Among the Vipers the Daboya is entitled to rank ar 



