SNAKES. 367 



these snakes are found either on the Alleghany, or near the 

 eastern and western bases of that mountain within the 

 State. 



Family I. CROTALID^E. Serpents "with poison fangs in 

 front, which are erectile, and few teeth in upper jaw. A 

 deep pit between the eye and nostril ; tail with a rattle."* 



CROTALUS Horridus.f This is the banded, or common 

 rattlesnake of the mountain. It is exceedingly venomous and 

 malignant, and found of large dimensions on that range. It is 

 somewhat numerous on the highest knobs and ridges, espe- 

 cially on their southern and southeastern slopes. On the 

 northwestern side and northern slopes it is not often seen. 

 It appears to avoid the cool shades and moist places of the 

 deep forests of the western declivity and table-lands, even 

 the dense laurel thickets in which it is so much dreaded. On 

 the summits of the highest knobs and their southern slopes, 

 where the rocks and earth are heated by the sun, and 

 where the huckleberry, blackberry, and grape abound, which 

 attract birds and other small animals, their regular prey, it 

 makes its haunts, and lives to a great age. Length, fre- 

 quently, more than four feet. 



AGKISTRODON Contortix. Copperhead. Tail without a 

 rattle. This is a poisonous serpent, possessing extremely 

 dangerous habits and qualities. The rattlesnake is a regu- 

 lar fiend, occasionally, perhaps for his own protection, 

 giving a peculiar style J of warning on the approach of 

 any animal except its legitimate prey, a caveat which 

 generally secures perfect freedom from all molesta- 

 tion. The copperhead, on the contrary, is silent, com- 

 bative, and vicious, and where he frequents must be looked 



* Baird and Girard. 



f Major Le Conte has clearly determined this to be the Crotalus 

 horridus, and not, durissus. (Vide Proceedings of the Academy of 

 Natural Sciences, vol. vi., 1852-53, p. 415.) 



J The sound of his rattle, once sprung between the feet of the 

 huntsman, will be remembered with a thrill of horror for the rest of 

 his life. 



