is brougiit in contact], there can be no doubt, but its virulence 

 lias been greatly exaggerated. Tlie aiiiiiials have not even 

 the power of using the secretion in the oiiensive. Upon some 

 animals [some reptiles for instance] it has no effect, even if 

 introduced into the stomach. »1 know of no animal or bird 

 which feeds on toads or salamanders, and certain snakes, 

 while even fecdivig on other Anura, will rather perish by 

 starvation than swallow a toad. Our cominon "hognose" or 

 spreading adder, on the other hand, prefers toads to other 

 food. The secretion is milky and viscid, and has a sharp, 

 bitter taste. Introduced into the stomach of small animals it 

 causes restlessness, trembling, sometimes vomiting and finally 

 convulsions and death. 



With the apin^oach of spring, the active life of one of the 

 most dreaded classes of the animal kingdom, [that of the 

 lieptiles], which during the winter months had been almost 

 suspended, is ushered in and enters into full operation. Al- 

 though the dread which attaches to these animals, especially 

 in the more temperate regions^ is greatly exaggerated, there 

 are, however, a nundjer of them found in our midst which, on 

 account of their i)oisonous qualities, must be feared. In the 

 entire class of reptiles but one order, the Ophidians, contains 

 these dangerous creatures. In our state they are restricted 

 to the small number of six species, and all are easily dis- 

 tinguished from their harmless and, in many instances, useful 

 congeners. 



So fai" as I have been able to determine, forty-seven 

 species of snakes are to be found in Louisiana, but, as I have 

 stated, only six are venomous, and no matter what the 

 deportment of some of the rest may be, they need not be 

 feared, nor will any ill effects arise from their bites. 



Considering first the venomous members of the order, 

 [which has been divided into two groups] : the rroierof/lypha, 

 or such in which the poison fangs are immovably attached 

 to the upper maxilla and fit into corresponding grooves of 

 the inferior one. 



This group is represented in Louisiana by but one 

 species — the Harlequin snake (Elapsfulvius). It is a con- 

 spicuously marked reptile, but by no means very commonly 

 encountered, by reason of its burrowing habits. It is gen- 

 erally found in decaying logs. While other members of the 

 genus are extremely dangerous, this cannot be said of our 

 Harlequin snake. The structure of the poison-timgs is 

 different from that of the Solenoglypha. In JElaps the tooth is 



