114 THE AMERICAN MUSEUM JOURNAL 
The young are produced during the latter part of August to 
the number of about a dozen. They grow rapidly and acquire, 
on an average, three joints of the rattle every year; the young 
snakes are born with a single “‘ button”’ on the tail. The average 
length of a mature snake of this species is from three and a half 
to four feet. 
FIG. 18. BANDED RATTLESNAKE 
Subsisting upon larger prey, such as squirrels, rats, young 
rabbits and birds, the Rattlesnake is a bolder reptile than the 
Copperhead. Provided with proportionately longer fangs and 
a more virulent poison, the bite of this species is more dangerous 
than the former. It generally frequents rocky localities and has 
a wide range of distribution. 
Range: Massachusetts to northern Florida, and westward 
to Texas. 
Local distribution: Within fifty miles of New York City, the 
Rattlesnake is now very scarce. Occasional specimens are re- 
ported from Putnam County. 
