352 REPTILES OF THE WORLD 



are three groups of venomous snakes in North America 

 — the Coral Snakes, the Moccasins and the Rattle- 

 snakes. The characteristics of the small Elapine ser- 

 pents (Coral Snakes), the Water Moccasin and the 

 Highland Moccasin (Copperhead Snake) have already 

 been considered, while we may dispose of the Rattle- 

 snakes with a simple suggestion and that is to look for 

 the rattle, a prominent and positively unique organ 

 among snakes. Its presence immediately brands the 

 owner. Though there are a number of species of Rattle- 

 snakes, the characteristic naturally appeals to all. The 

 amateur naturalist, prospector and the farmer are not so 

 particular as to the exact species; what they are desir- 

 ous of ascertaining is, whether a snake may be dan- 

 gerous. The presence of a rattle shows this to be in- 

 variably the case. 



In the New England States and the Middle Atlantic 

 States, there are but two species of poisonous snakes. 

 These are the Timber Rattlesnake and the Copperhead 

 Snake. The Blacksnake, Water Snake, Flat-Headed 

 "Adder," Checkered "Adder" and other serpents with 

 formidable titles are wholly innocuous. If we include 

 the Lake Region and the Ohio Valley we must con- 

 sider another poisonous species, the Massasauga, Sis- 

 trurus catenatus; this is a small rattlesnake of a slaty 

 gray marked with a chain of deep brown blotches. 



South of central North Carolina, thence throughout 

 the Gulf States, we find several more venomous species, 

 as follows: — 



The Diamond-back Rattlesnake, Crotalus adaman- 

 teus, largest and most deadly of the North American 

 serpents; the Pigmy Rattlesnake, Sistrurus miliarius, 

 a diminutive species; the Water Moccasin, Ancistro- 

 don piscivorous, and the Coral Snake, Elaps ful- 



