Sab Rafinesque onthe Red Adder. 
From the above accurate description, it will appear evident us 
that this animal is very different from the common marten of 
North America. It must be a ferocious little animal, and very 
fierce; which is indicated by the strength of the teeth. 
. 
Arr. XVIII. Natural History of the Scytalus Cupreus, 
Copper-head Snake. By C.S. Rarinesque. 
Arrer the rattlesnake, the copper-head snake is the most 
dreaded in the northern states, being the next largest venom- 
ous snake: he is also more common in the cold parts, where 
the former is very rare. Strange as it may seem, this con- 
spicuous and dangerous animal has escaped the notice of natu- 
ralists, and is not found described in Shaw nor Lacepede — 
Having seen two of them near Fishkill, in the summer of 1817, — 
I endeavoured to describe them completely, and investigate — 
their history. They were both killed in a meadow, and one 
of them while sleeping, coiled up near a fence; a slight stroke 
of a rod was sufficient, as usual with venomous snakes. It 
appears that they are killed much easier than the innocent 
snakes; these are often seen to revive after an apparent death, 
and do not really die until the next sunset ; while venomous 
snakes do not easily revive, particularly if the head is slightly 
bruised. 
"This snake is known by a variety of names in different parts 
of the State of New-York, since he has every where attracted 
the attention of the inhabitants: these names are, copper-headh 
copper-snake, chunk-head, copper-adder, copper-viper; coppe™ 
belly, pilot-snake, deaf-adder, deaf-snake ; and in New-Eng 
land, by the names rattlesnake’s mate, red adder, &c. They 
have all been given in reference to his colour, or to some pre 
sumed peculiarities in his manners, &c. Chunk-head is & vul- 
gar expression, meaning thick-head, or blunt-head. He has 
been called sometimes pilot-snake, on a false supposition that 
he was the pilot or guide of the rattlesnake; and he bas beep 
a. 
ie 
a 
