REMARKS ON SOME OF THE FLORIDA 



SNAKES. 



The snakes of Florida may be divided into two classes, the 

 venomous and the non-venomous. Out of the large number of 

 species known to occur in the State but four may be classed as 

 venomous, and two of these are so small as to be harmless, unless 

 handled or touched with the hand or bare foot ; a third, the cotton- 

 mouth moccasin, is by no means a common species ; and the fourth, 

 the well-known diamond rattlesnake, although exceedingly venom- 

 ous, is luckily not aggressive, and unless irritated or touched, will 

 rarely attempt to strike. 



All venomous snakes have grooved or perforated fangs in the 

 upper jaw ; in some permanently fixed, in others erectile, but always 

 showing the aperture through which the poison is ejected. Npn- 

 venomous species have fixed teeth in the upper jaw in which there 

 is no groove or poison duct. 



The venomous snakes which are found in Florida are as follows : — 



CROTALUS ADAHANTEUS Beauv. 

 Diamond Rattlesnake. 



Unlike the cotton-mouth moccasin the diamond rattlesnake is not 

 naturally vicious or aggressive, preferring rather to avoid man than 

 to attack him. It is a very dangerous snake, however, as its " bite " 

 nearlv always proves fatal. Alcohol and stimulants will often pre- 

 vent any serious results from the the bite of Western and Northern 

 rattlesnakes (C. horridus'), but these remedies have not proved 

 efficacious in cases where persons have been bitten by the Florida 

 species. 



In very large snakes the fangs are often three quarters of an 

 inch, or more, in length, and they strike with much force. When 



