The Rattlesnakes 



though not rapid undulations, heading toward crevices in the 

 roci< or the undergrowth where it at once seei<s concealment, 

 if cornered it will fight bravely, assuming a loose and irregular 

 coil, and striking with such dexterity that the eye can scarcely 

 follow the movement, it strikes generally a third, sometimes 

 half its length, but never springs bodily as alleged by the writers 

 of sensational snake stories. Nor is it necessary for the snake 

 to be coiled to deal a blow. While retreating toward shelter 

 it will often turn and from a crawling position draw back the 

 head by contracting the neck into an S-shaped loop, and strike 

 readily. 



In the coast swamps of South Carolina and Georgia, the 

 "Cane-brake Rattlesnake" is rather different in habits from its 

 ally of the mountain ledges. This phase of the Banded Rattler 

 grows to a large size and the majority of specimens are vicious 

 and untamable. Their temper is quite as different as is the 

 malarial lowgrounds they inhabit, when compared with the 

 rugged, mountain haunts of the upland phase of Timber Rattle- 

 snakes. 



The food of the Banded Rattlesnake consists entirely of 

 warm-blooded prey in the shape of small rabbits, squirrels, 

 rats, mice, and birds. 



Like all of the rattlesnakes, this species is viviparous — 

 bringing forth living young, that are provided with a single "but- 

 ton" at birth representing the future rattle. The young are 

 of much the same colouration as the parent, but a yellow snake 

 will frequently give birth to young that represent both the yel- 

 low and the black phases, as has also been frequently noted 

 with black females. 



Following are notes pertaining to the birth of several broods, 

 from females that had been but a few weeks in captivity: 



Sept. 6. Brood of 12. Female from Pike Country, Pennsylvania. 



'' J. " " 9. " " Sullivan County, New York. 



" 12. " " 12. 

 ,, ^^ ,, ,, 



" 18. " " 9. 



A specimen of the brood born on September 6th, was exactly 



twelve inches long at time of birth. This same snake — after 



feeding regularly — was again measured on November 19th, and 



found to be fourteen and a half inches in length. 



446 



