The Moccasins 



to man. It is indeed a dangerously poisonous snake, and well 

 able to cause death to man if delivering a bite well placed and 

 followed by other than the most energetic and competent 

 treatment. 



A captive Copperhead is an interesting reptile and a satisfac- 

 tory one, as it thrives well under sympathetic care. The feeding 

 habits are rather eccentric and seemingly relate to the possibility 

 of finding certain kinds of food during different phases of the 

 season when the reptile is in a wild state. During the spring 

 and fall, it is very fond of frogs, grasping them with lightning- 

 like rapidity and retaining the hold until the prey is dead. The 

 venom acts quickly upon the cold-blooded batrachian. During 

 the later spring, these snakes prefer young birds, showing in 

 fact such a decided preference to this food that some snakes 

 will fast unless provided with the feathered prey. During the 

 summer months captive specimens well eat small rodents, such 

 as mice and rats, or chipmunks. This preference though not 

 invariable is quite general as noted in caring for many of these 

 snakes. After several years in captivity these reptiles assume 

 a less particular appetite and live contentedly upon a diet of 

 mice and frogs. 



The number of young produced by this viviparous snake, 

 is small. From a number of observations it appears to vary 

 from six to nine. A specimen giving birth to the latter number 

 measured two and a half feet in length; the young snakes were 

 ten inches long. When born, the young snakes have brilliant, 

 sulphur-yellow tails. Quite frequently, when the food is in- 

 troduced into a cage containing small Copperheads, the tails 

 of the little snakes wriggle and twist in a manner that instantly 

 suggests their remarkable similarity to yellow grubs or maggots. 

 When among dried leaves the colours of the young snakes blend 

 so perfectly with their surroundings that it is almost impossible, 

 when a little distance away, to discover them with the exception 

 of the bright yellow tail. Well might the unsuspecting wood- 

 frog as it hops about in search of insect food be attracted to this 

 conspicuous object and toward the jaws of the ever-ready snake. 

 It is very probable that the young Copperhead employs the yel- 

 low tail to attract its prey, as does the big snapping turtle, al- 

 ready described, lure the fish within its jaws by the grub-like 

 filament of flesh. Certain it is that the young snakes wriggle 



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