Wee tthe S OF THE VICINITY OF NEW VORK CITY 113 
pit between the eye and the nostril, a characteristic of the crotaline 
snakes that has led to their popular title, ‘the Pit Vipers.”’ 
The upper jaw of the Copperhead is provided with two long 
fangs which fold against the roof of the mouth when the latter is 
closed. These teeth are hollow and are provided with an open- 
ing at the tip for the ejection of poison. They are precisely the 
same in their formation as the needle of a hypodermic syringe. 
The poison is secreted in glands behind the reptile’s eyes, and 
is forced through the fangs by muscular contraction during the 
act of biting. 
The Copperhead is the most beautiful of our local snakes, 
its delicate colors so closely resembling the falling leaves of 
autumn that it is with difficulty to be distinguished from its 
surroundings at that time of the year. When annoyed, it im- 
parts a rapid, vibratory movement to the tail, which when among 
dried leaves produces a distinct rattling, audible for several feet. 
Its bite is very dangerous, but the snake is not habitually hostile 
and it prefers flight to combat. When cornered, however, it will 
fight bravely, striking from a partly coiled position. The food of 
this snake consists of small mammals, birds and frogs. From 
six to nine young are produced alive during August or early in 
September. The tails of the young snakes are bright sulphur- 
yellow, which tint gradually fades: as the reptile matures. A 
large adult specimen will measure three feet in length. 
Range: Massachusetts to Florida, westward to Texas. 
Local distribution: Palisades of the Hudson River, northern 
Westchester, Rockland, Putnam and Orange Counties, N. Y. 
Prefers thick, damp woods and in some districts (Orange and 
Rockland Counties) is moderately abundant. 
With the rattle as an unvarying characteristic, the dangerous 
Banded Rattlesnake, Crotalus horridus (Figs. 1 and 18), may 
be instantly recognized. Female specimens are gener- Banded 
ally sulphur-yellow or brown, with black, or dark- Rattle- 
brown transverse bands; the males are usually very Buake. 
dark brown or black with little trace of the bands, except yellow 
markings that show the location of the borders of the transverse 
blotches. The scales are roughly keeled. The head is triangular 
and covered with small, irregular scales. 
