86 Rafinesque on the Red Adder. 
claw, of an oblong, compressed, obtuse shape, and carinated oe 
underneath. 
This snake has many of the habits of the rattlesnake ; he is 
very slow in his motions, rather clumsy, owing to his thick 
shape and short tail. He retires in winter into caves, hollow 
rocks and trees, where he lies, in a torpid state, from Novem- 
ber to April; several have been found coiled up together, the 
head lying over the back: itis in the same situation he sleeps 
in the fields. When found in the torpid state, they may be 
carried without waking; but might wake in a warm room. 
They do not eat during all that time: their food consists of 
birds, frogs, mice, and even squirrels, which they catch by 
surprise, as they do not climb on trees. They kill their large 
prey by breathing a poisonous effluvia, crushing it in their 
folds, and they swallow it whole after covering it with their 
clammy saliva. They can remain a very long time withouta 
meal, and one meal is a long time digesting. — 
They are generally found in meadows, pastures, and the 
edge of weods. They creep slovenly through the grass, and 
if surprised by the sight of man, they assume an erect and 
threatening posture, darting their tongue and swelling theit — 
head ; but they do not attack men, unless alarmed and struck 
They are considered more dangerous than the rattlesnake, 
because they do not give notice of their vicinity, and lie con- 
cealed in the grass; but they are easily killed, when assuming 
the threatening posture, by a slight touch of a cane, spade, 
any other instrument. The effect of their bite is similar t0 
that of the rattlesnake, and cured in the same way, by the 
prompt application of the Aristolochia serpentaria, Polygala 
senega, Prenanthes serpentaria, Macrotys serpentaria, &c. and — 
other plants, bearing in consequence the name of snakeroots- 
This snake is found in New-England, New-York, New- 
Jersey, Pennsylvania, &c., and perhaps all over the United 
States, 
