CROTALID.E. LXXVI. 183 



short muzzle; no loral 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.) Cuv. 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. 



(Tlie Crotalid 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. . CROTALUS, 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 



