189 



Onr dissection shows that in the early part of June these eggs 

 are about one and one-half inch in length on a yolk, with covering, 

 very closely resembling a true egg. Gradually the embryo develops 

 and the yolk is absorbed, and the young is born from the latter part 

 of August to the early part of October. Our specimen No. 2550, 

 collected on the 18th of September, contained eggs one and three- 

 fourths inches in length, with the development of the embryo 

 nearly complete. These could not have been born until October. 

 From six to ten are born at a time. Dr. Atkinson writes "A female 

 kept in the laboratory of the Museum gave birth to six young on 

 the 28th of August, 1900. The young are poisonous at an early age. 

 One of these young eight days old bit the writer on the finger and 

 caused a painful inflammation which continued four days." 



This reptile is reported as feeding on frogs and disabled birds, 

 and Dr. Atkinson has found in its stomach the larva^ of insects, 

 cicadas, locusts and small birds. We have found it feeding on the 



following material: 



« 



No. Specimens: Food Materials: 



From the above list it will be s(H'n that the food of the Copper- 

 head to a great extent consists of large insects, especially larva? 

 wliich fall to the ground from the leaves on which they were feed- 

 ing, and also of mammals of various kinds, especially the most 

 obnoxious species of mice. Note that six ditt'erent individuals were 

 found gorged with Seventeen-year Locusts or Cicadas. 



