CKOTALID^. LXXVI. 183 



short muzzle; no 1 oral plate. Genera 15; species about 

 50, chiefly East Indian, a few inhabiting the warmer 

 parts of America. 



* Anal plate entire ; urosteges two-rowed ; scales in 15 rows. 



ELAPS, 1. 



/. ELAPS, Schneider. HARLEQUIN SNAKES. 

 1. E. fulvius, (L.) Guv. BEAD SNAKE. Jet black, 

 with about 17 broad crimson rings, each bordered with 

 yellow, and spotted below with black; a yellow occipital 

 band; tail with yellow rings; L. 30; G. 200 to 215; U. 

 32. Va. to Ark. and S. A beautiful snake, mild in dis 

 position and apparently harmless, although provided with 

 venom-fangs. Resembles Osceola and Ophibolus. 



FAMILY LXXVI. CROTALID^E. 



(The Orotalid Snakes.) 



Upper jaw destitute of solid teeth, but provided 

 with an erectile, grooved poison-fang on each side in 

 front; a deep pit between eye and nostril. Tail often 

 provided with a rattle, composed of horny rings of modi 

 fied epidermis. Urosteges generally undivided, at least 

 anteriorly. Scales carinated in all our species. Species 

 50, more or less, all American, and renowned for the 

 deadliness of their venom. 



* Tail with a rattle. 



f Top of head covered with small, scale-like plates, larger ones 

 in front; size large; rattle large. , . CROTALDS, 1. 

 ft Top of head with 9 large plates ; size small ; rattle small. 



CAUDISONA, 2. 

 ** Tail without a rattle ; general color chestnut, variegated. 



ANCISTRODON, 3. 



/. CROTALUS, Linnaeus. RATTLESNAKES. 

 1. C. horridus, L. BANDED OR NORTHERN RATTLE 

 SNAKE. Sulphur brown of various shades, with two rows 



