
TERRARIA AND AQUA-TERRARIA 

Length 30 to 50 inches. Common in the Middle States and from Mary- 
land to Kansas, and south, harmless and easily domesticated. 
Lampropeltis doliatus triangulus (Bote), or Milk Snake, House Snake, 
is very similar to the foregoing, but the colors are bluish-grey or milk- 
white, with three series of rounded brownish blotches, bordered with black, 
and an arrow-shaped occipital spot; and a silvery-white lower surface, 
marked with evenly-placed broad black lines and patches. Length 36 
inches. Very common in New England and Middle States, south to 
Virginia and west to Iowa. 
Hleterodon platirhinos (Latr.), or Spreading Adder, has a large flat 
triangular head with elongated and pointed snout, an elongated, thick 
rounded body slightly flattened on the abdomen, covered above with 
strongly carinated scales, and moderately large plates below. The tail is 
long, narrow and pointed. The colors above are brownish, reddish or 
iron-grey with dark blotches and half-rings on the tail. The lower surface 
is yellowish-grey. This snake has a somewhat mottled appearance, as the 
scales are often outlined with lighter colors, and the general color is vari- 
able. Length 30 inches. It is harmless but when angry will depress 
and expand the head like an adder, coiling, hissing and assuming a very 
threatening aspect, but is cowardly, and if hard pressed will feign to be 
dead. It feeds on small animals, principally toads, small reptiles and 
insects. Found abundantly in moist places from New Hampshire to 
Florida, and west to the Rockies. 
Agkistrodon contortrix (Linn.), or Copperhead, Cotton-mouth, has a 
large, triangular, posteriorly broad head with strong upper jaw and poison 
fangs ; ashort neck, an elongated heavy thick body, covered with carinated 
rhomboidal scales above and moderately broad plates below, which ex- 
tend nearly to the end of the thick, conical tail, ending in a horny point. 
The color of the head and the ground color of the entire upper side is a 
coppery red, lighter at the sides, where the scales are flecked with small 
dark spots. Behind the occiput, to the end of the tail, are a series of 
transverse bars, or X-shaped blotches, of dark-brown, lighter on the back 
and darker to the sides, and also bordered with darker brown. The 
under surface is dull flesh-pink, flecked with brown. Length 40 inches. 
Frequents dark and shady places, sometimes in high grass, from western 
New England to Florida, westward to Wisconsin, and south. Feeds on 
small animals, principally birds and mice. A dangerous, poisonous 
snake ; now only occurring in wild and uncultivated places. 
Cortalis horridus (Linn.), or Common Rattlesnake, has a very large, 
triangular head with broad truncate snout, a short neck, and a thick 
elongated body covered with rough carinated rhomboidal scales above and 
ats 
