32 Fossil Plants.—Massasauga, Rattle Snake. 
Srropitus Caryoruyiius. Specific Character.—Cone-shap- 
ed; seeds radiating from an oblong centre; stem thick and short. 
Description.—Capsule cone-shaped, nearly round ; fruit arranged 
in radii; oblong, clove-shaped ; half an inch in Littles and one line 
in diameter. Strobilus, one inch in diameter. 
Observations.—The fossil above described is apparently the fruit 
of some cone-bearing tree. The seeds are arranged like those. of 
the Plane tree, but are twice as large, and not half as numerous. 
They are more clove-shaped, and not flat like those of Conifere or 
resinous trees. It is probably the fruit of some extinct species, bu- 
ried amidst the ruins of the coal strata at that period when arbores- 
cent ferns clothed this part of the earth. From the sandstone rocks 
on the Mahoning River. (Fig. 8.) 
Massasauga, Rattle Snake.—In the Tamarack and Cranberry 
swamp, noticed as lying over the upper coal deposit, are found large 
numbers of a small black, or very dark brown rattle snake, about 
twelve or fourteen inches in length, and of a proportionate thickness: 
They have usually three or four small rattles. ‘This species seems 
to be confined to the Tamarack swamps, and are found no where 
else. but in their vicinities, wandering in the summer months a short 
distance only from their borders. When lying basking in the sun; 
they resemble a short, dirty, broken stick or twig, being generally 
discolored with mud, over which they are frequently moving. Their 
bite is not very venomous, yet they are much dreaded by the neigh- 
boring people. Their habitations are retired and unfrequented, s0 
that few persons are ever bitten. The Indian name for this snake 
