OPHIDIA : CROTALID^E. 305 



mus, Gray, of the Southern States, which is bluish black 

 above, with three longitudinal lines of red ; length about 

 fifteen inches. 



The Genus Virginia is represented by V. Valeria, B. & 

 G., of the Southern States, which is yellowish above, with 

 minute black dots ; length eight to ten inches. 



The Genus Celuta is represented by the Ground or 

 Worm Snake, C. amcena, B. & G., of the Connecticut val- 

 ley and southwestward, which is uniform chestnut-brown, 

 bright salmon beneath ; length seven to twelve inches. 



The Genus Tantilla is represented by T. coronata, B. & 

 G., of Mississippi, which has the body reddish brown, with 

 a black band across the neck above ; and T. gracilis, B. 

 & G., of Texas, which is greenish brown above, lighter 

 beneath ; length about eight inches. 



The Genus Osceola is represented by O. elapsoidea, B. & 

 G., of the Southern States, which is red, crossed by pairs 

 of black rings, each pair enclosing a white one. 



The Genus Storeria has the head subelliptical, and dis- 

 tinct from the body. 



S. Dekayi, B. & G., of the United States, is gray above, 

 with a clay-colored dorsal band, on each side of which is 

 a double series of black dots. The lower parts are gen- 

 erally straw-color, each plate with four minute black dots ; 

 length nine to thirteen inches. 



6". occipito-maculata, B. & G., of the United States, is 

 gray salmon-color below, and there are three light-colored 

 spots behind the head ; length nine to eleven inches. 



CROTALID^E, OR RATTLESNAKE FAMILY. This Fam- 

 ily comprises serpents whose upper jaw contains but few 

 teeth, but is armed with sharp-pointed, perforated or 

 grooved, movable poison-fangs. These fangs are con- 

 cealed in a fold of the gum, or raised, at the will of the 

 animal. They connect with a gland situated near the 

 eye, which furnishes the fluid poison. When the snake 



