198 KEniLIA : OPIIIDIA. — XXVIII. 



prossi's ami ♦•xpands tlie hi-ail, liissin;; and threatening, but it is 



pi-rfi'Ctlv liartiilfss. (/rXan'r, llat ; ^«s, nosi-.) 



aa. Vortical plate encircled by 5 to 10 small plates. C/^ah^ {^O^*^ ilX-ff-^ i^jJ'-'~' '^-<^(^ 



576. H. simuB (L.). Hog-noskd Snakk. l)orsal blotelu's ^"^'^ 

 about 3."> ; ji^rouml color usually pale yellowish brown; vertical 

 plate much longer than ocoipitals, broader than long. V. V. 115 to 



l.'iU. Scales usually 25. 111. and Wis. to S. C, chiefly S. (Lat., 

 flat-nosed.) 



F.\Mii.Y CXI. ELAPID^. (Thk Harlequin Snakes.) 



]'('iwmous snakes, provided with two or more permanently erect, 

 perforated fangs in the upi)er jaw, and usually a series of smaller 

 teeth behind them ; scales not keeled ; head usually quadrangular, 

 with flat crown and short muzzle; no loral plate. Genera 3, species 

 about 20, chiefly East Indian, a few inhabiting the warmer parts of 

 America. , . ■ i i 



a. Anal plate cwfMw; sub-caiulal plates two-rowod ; two nasal jilates; infor- 

 nasal plate touching the nasal laterally Euves, 289. 



289. ELAPS Silmeider. (Old name of some snake.) 



577. E. fulvius (L.). Read Snake. Jet black, with alxiut 

 17 broad crimson rings, each bordered with yellow, and spotted 

 below with black; a yellow occipital band; tail with yellow rings. 

 V. r. 200 to 215. U. 32. Scales, 15 rows. L. 30. Va. to Ark. 

 and S. A beautiful snake, apparently harmless, although provided 

 •with venom-fangs. Resembles Lampr. doUalus. (Lat., reddish- 

 yellow.) 



Family CXII. CR0TALID.<E. (The Rattlesnakes.) 



Maxillary vertical, without solid teeth, but provided with long, 

 erectile, perforated poison-fang on each side in front ; a deep pit 

 between eye and nostril, extendin<; into the excavated maxillary. 

 Boily stout ; head large, flat, triangular, on a slender neck ; j)upil 

 elliptical, placed vertically. Tail usually provided with a rattle 

 composed of horny rings, modified scales. Subcaudal plates gen- 

 erally undivided, at least anteriorly. Scales ket'led, in all our 

 ppecies; anal plate entire. Genera 12; species about 60, all Ameri- 

 can, renowned for their venom. All are viviparous. 



a. Tail short, without rattle, ending in a horny point ; top of head with about 

 8 synnnetrical plates arranj;id amund tJie vertical plato; tail not ]>re- 



)ien<ile Aw m.t it i.nmiN -, -I'M). 



an. Tail with a rattle. •'^^^>^W>i«rro 



b. Top of head with about 8 platcH sj'nimetrically arranged ; rattle small. 



SisTitrucs, 291. 

 bb. Top of head covered with small scales; rattle large. Ckotai-us, 292. 



