418 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1917. 



HOG-NOSE, OK PUFF ADDER, Jlctcrodotl COntortHn (H. platyrll illUS) . 



Concerning this species, which he kept in captivity, Dr. Hiram 

 Byrd writes as follows: 



Among the snakes of my pit the puff adder acts the part of clown. He is all 

 hluff. If you come upon him suddenly he spreads his hood like a cobra, and 

 tries to frighten you with his looks. Failing, he blows like a rattlesnake. If 

 you are still undaunted, he takes to flight. If you do not permit that, and pro- 

 ceed to tease him, he then resorts to camouflage, which is to turn over on his 

 back and, possumlike, play dead. He will even try to creep away on his back. 

 I can't imagine the rattlesnake associating with the puff adder on terms of 

 social equality. 1 



This snake is easily recognizee! by its turned-np nose and its mot- 

 tled brown body. 



THE COTTONMOUTH, OB WATER MOCCASIN, AllCistrodon piSfi t'OrilS. 



This species, so much dreaded by travelers in the Everglades, is 

 closely allied to our copperhead, Anci&trodon mokasen (A. contor- 

 trix), which is sometimes called the highland moccasin. The top of 

 its head is very dark, usually black, the chin and lower lips yellow, 

 with three dark bars on the lip plates on each side of the mouth, and 

 the abdomen is yellow blotched with dark brown or black, while the 

 under portion of the tail is black. This coloration of the abdomen 

 serves to distinguish it from its harmless associates, with which it is 

 sometimes confused, Nati^ix fasciata, which has a yellowish white ab- 

 domen spotted with red and black; and Natrix cyclopion, which has a 

 uniform yellowish abdomen. When surprised it has the habit of 

 opening its jaws widely, disclosing its white mouth parts, from which 

 it takes its name of cottonmouth. In addition to fish, frogs, and 

 other snakes, it feeds upon birds and small animals. It brings forth 

 its young alive, usually seven to twelve. 



RATTLESNAKES. 



The pigmy rattlesnake, or ground rattler, Sistrums mUiarius, may 

 be recognized at once by its small size and minute rattle. The adults 

 scarcely reach a length of 18 inches. Their warning rattle is so faint 

 that it can be heard from the distance of only a few feet. The dia- 

 mond-back, Crotalus adamanteus, is the largest of all the rattlesnakes, 

 sometimes reaching a length of 6 to 8 feet. It is recognized at once by 

 its rattle and its broad, flat head and distinctly narrowed neck. It 

 is of an olive or grayish green color with a longitudinal chain of 

 large, diamond-shaped patches outlined with bright yellow. With its 

 long fangs and large poison glands it may be regarded as one of the 

 most deadly poisonous snakes in the world. Doctor Byrd has made 



1 Byrd, Hiram, Letter to writer dated IIoinestead v Fla., Nov. 15, 1917. 



