The Moccasins 



titiless the prey be very large and powerjul, and that the striking 

 of a rattlesnal<e and the immediate release of the bitten creature 

 is merely a symptom of nervousness exhibited by many of the 

 poisonous snakes which are so high-strung, that they are on the 

 constatTt qui vive in captivity. The Moccasin, possessed of a 

 more stolid disposition shows its natural manners of feeding 

 even when under artificial conditions. 



If a man is reckless enough to trust a snake possessing 

 venomous fangs, he may handle one of these serpents with the 

 utmost good-nature on the part of the reptile. Such familiarity 

 with the average rattlesnake would be immediately resented and 

 with disastrous results. 



The Moccasin produces small broods of living young, the 

 number varying from seven to twelve. Among several spec- 

 imens under observation, two produced broods of eight young, 

 each; three gave birth to broods of twelve young, each, and 

 one to a litter of three. A very small female gave birth to one 

 youngster, which fed voraciously and within two years was so 

 much larger than its mother that conditions of parent and off- 

 spring appeared to be reversed. 



THE COPPERHEAD SNAKE OR HIGHLAND MOCCASIN; 



PILOT SNAKE; RATTLESNAKE PILOT 



AND CHUNKHEAD 



Ancistrodon contortrix, (Linn.) 



Moderate in size and proportionately more slender than 



the preceding species. The scales are strongly keeled, and the 



majority of the plates on the underside of the tail are in a single 



row. 



Colouration. — Above hazel brown, with large cross-bands 

 of rich, chestnut brown. These bands are narrow on the back, 

 and very broad on the sides, and when looked at from above 

 resemble the outlines of an hour glass. Beneath, the colour is 

 pinkish-white, with a row of large dark spots on each side of the 

 abdomen. 



From the sides, the majority of the bands appear as blunt 

 Y's with the stems directed upward. On most specimens several 

 of the bands are broken on the back, forming inverted V- or 

 Y-shaped blotches on the sides. All of the bands are darker at 



420 



