On a new genus of Serpents, and two new species of the 

 genus Heterodo7i, inhabiting Tennessee. By Dr. G. T r o o s t, 

 Professor of Chemistry and Natural History in the univer- 

 sity of Nashville, Tennessee. 



Read April, 1833. 



The cultivator of Natural History, residing in large and 

 populous cities, surrounded by every thing that is artificial, if 

 not unnatural, and admiring nature in the contemplation merely 

 of a few stuffed skins of animals ; or occupied in calculating, 

 from the inclination of the faces of small crystals, the height 

 and breadth of imperceptible, perhaps imaginary, molecules, 

 may easily conceive the delight he would enjoy, if placed, like 

 myself, amid the rich and varied stores of nature, in the luxu- 

 riant far west. Let it not therefore, surprise those, to whom I 

 am only known as a mineralogist, to see, from my pen, the 

 description of other productions of nature. 



As yet but little is known of the natural history of this beau- 

 tiful and happy country ; this is particularly the case with its 

 herpetology. I heard, during my rambles through Tennessee, 

 dreadful tales of various reptiles; of the dangerous bite of the 

 cotton-mouth, the moccason, the spreading adder, and many 

 other snakes. 



The cotton-mouth snake, which, it seems, inhabits principally 

 in the western district, or that part of Tennessee which is situ- 

 ated between the Tennessee and Mississippi rivers, was parti- 

 cularly dreaded. As these reptiles are known only by trivial 

 names, and as the same animal is known under various names 

 in different parts of the state, I was always uncertain what 

 snake was spoken of, and endeavoured, therefore, to collect all 

 those that came in my way. My friends throughout the state 

 have also lent me their assistance. I am indebted to the po- 

 liteness of Mr. Ruffin, one of the students of our university, 



