really perforated like a tube, wliercas in the Soleuoglypli 

 snakes tlie fangs are grooved anteriorly, but the edges of the 

 groove are auchylosed in their middle portion, leaving" the 

 fangs open in front, above and below. 



Solenoglyph snakes are such as are able to erect or 

 depress the poison-fangs at will. The members of this sub- 

 order found in Louisiana, and in fact on the entire western 

 continent, belong to the division of iJo^/^ro^/iora or Pit-vipers. 

 The existence of a peculiar deep depression, situated between 

 the nostril and eye, distinguishes them from the 

 Ahothrophora — Solenoglyph snakes of the Old World. 



The SolenoglypJia are represented by three genera of the 

 family Crotalldaej or Kattlesnakes : Crotalus, ^iMrurus and 

 AgJcistrodon. 



The genus Crqtalus gives us two of the largest and most 

 dangerous of the Ophidians, not only for our state but for the 

 entire North American continent. In fact, Crofalas adamant- 

 eus stands not behind in size to the most dangerous of all 

 snakes of the western hemisphere, the terrible "Fer-de-lance" 

 of Martinique and Guadeloupe and its darker congener of the 



Central American continent. 



• 



The chief locality in Avhich I have met the Diamond Eat- 

 ler is St. Tammany parish; in the hummock lands which bor- 

 der the pine-flats on the one side and the water-courses on 

 the other. The largest I obtained there several years ago 

 measured six feet, three inches in length, by a trifle over four 

 inches in diameter. While this measurement is considerably 

 above the average, Florida specimens of over eight feet in 

 length are claimed to have been taken. Like all of our 

 poisonous snakes, the Diamond Rattlers, especially the larger 

 ones, are becoming rarer and rarer as the reclamation of our 

 forests and swamps is extended. After the first shock upon 

 unexpectedly meeting this reptile is overcome, and its almost 

 continually moving coils, with the really gracefnl position of 

 the head and neck, are watched, any one must admit that 

 there is something beautiful even in this dangerous creature. 

 The contour of the head is somewhat more obtuse than that 

 o( tlie Ciuie Riittler [Crotalm horridits]. It is shorter and 

 thicker, and the venom glands are more prominently outlined. 

 The eyes are small and emit, when the animal is alarmed or 

 enraged, an ominous glitter, but the idea that the snake [or 

 forthatmatter any others of this order] possesses thepowerof 

 charming is, of course, erroneous. Fright on seeing the 



