THE COLUBRID. 677 
In the State it occurs along the waters of the Mahoning, Big Beaver, 
and Muskingum rivers, and also in the neighborhood of Cleveland. 
The Copperhead is one of our most venomous species. It differs from 
the Rattlesnakes in that it strikes without warning. It is an indolent, 
sluggish animal, but when approached raises its head, thrusts out its 
tongue, and strikes at the intruder. It has various common names such 
as Hazel-head, Chunkhead, Red Viper, Copperbelly, Cotton-mouth, Dumb 
Rattlesnake, Red and Deaf Adder, but it is more usually designated as 
Copperhead. They, at least the pregnant females, are gregarious and 
occur in meadows or elevated grounds. They are, however, terrestrial, 
and appear to be ovoviviparous; at least according to Allen, five females 
out of seven, caught in the latter part of July in Massachusetts, contained 
slightly developed embryos, while of six females killed in September the 
ovaries of each contained seven or nine young, six inches long. 
FAMILY COLUBRIDM THE COLUBRINE SNAKKS, 
Conical teeth in both jaws; head oblong or oval, covered with large plates; poison 
fangs wanting ; pupil of eye circular; lachrymal or nasal pit absent ; body colubriform ; 
head tapering gradually into the neck; dorsal scales carinated or smooth; no anal 
appendages; urosteges bifid; tail conical, without rattle, tapering gradually to a point; 
species all believed to be harmless. 
The following excellent table, fashioned after the Smithsonian Catalogue of Reptiles, 
by Baird and Girard, and Jordan’s Manual, it is believed will enable anyone to readily 
refer a species to its proper genus. 
Dorsal scales carinated. a. 
Dorsal scales smooth. 4. 
a. Post-abdominal scutella entire. 0, 
a. Post-abdominal scutella bifid. c. 
b. Dorsal rows of scales not exceeding 23. C Q ; é . EUTANIA, 
b. Dorsal rows exceeding 25, > . . : : - . PITYOPHIS. 
e. Loral and anteorbital plates both present. d. 
c. Anteorbitals absent; extralimital. A “ . . . . HALDEA. 
ce. Lorals absent. - : - : : C : “ . « STORERIA. 
d. Dorsal rows of scales 17 or less. < ‘ ° . = . CYCLOPHIS. 
d. Dorsal rows of scales 190r more. e, 
e. Cephalic plates typical. f. 
e. Cephalic plates not typical. h. 
jf. Postorbitals three, rarely two; anteorbitals usually one; dorsal rows of 
scales 23-29, : : - = . : TROPIDONOTUS. 
f. Postorbitals two; dorsal rows of scales 19-21. : ‘ . REGINA. 
h. Muzzle projecting and recurved. ; “ . . HETERODON. 
h. Muzzle not projecting. . : . ° : . - COLUBER. 
i. Anteorbital plates both present. j. 
«. Anteorbitals absent. m. 
j. Post-abdominal scutella entire, or bifid with 25 rows of dorsal scales. 
OPHIB@LUS. 
