190 



From Ihc ccoiioiiiic standpoint of iis fccdinj^ habits in relation to 

 mankind, it is very beuefieial, and if it were not for the careless 

 use of a most dangerous weapon we should be justified^ in recom- 

 mendinjj;- its ])reservation. 



Xo. 2a. Sistrurus catenatus (Rafm.). Prairie Rattlesnake. Plate XXXIX. 



Drsowa-bcj-Wiil- f^-Wolfoa 



5i&tpapa& cafeQafag) 



DrawQ /pom preserved specimen 



Fig. 22.— Structural Characters of the Prairie Rattlesnake (SUUurux ratenatus). 

 Natural size. Drawn in the Office of the Economic Zoologist. 



The Prairie Kattlesnake is often called the Massassauj.>a, from the 

 Indian name for this reptile. The name of the «;enus Sutrurus, is 

 from two Greek words, meaning ''Rattle-tail;" and the name of the 

 species catenatm, is from the Latin, "chained," or ''forming a 

 chain," and refers to the color pattern. 



It is not usually known that two species of Rattlesnakes arc to 

 b(! found in the Stale of Pennsylvania, and also that they are 

 described as belonging to different Genera or major groups, al 

 though they are of the same family. The Common Rattle Snake, 

 which is generally found in rocky places through the State, belongs 

 to the genus Crotalva. The difference between the genera iSis- 

 trurm (which is the Prairie Rattle Snake) and Crotalus (which in- 



