268 NATURE-STUDY REVIEW [12:6-Sept., 1916 



ward. In striking a perpendicular object the snake literally stabs 

 with these teeth, instantly drawing back to a position of defence. 

 In striking a small object or a rounded surface, the jaws close upon 

 it enough to embed the fangs. So lightning-like are these move- 

 ments that they are but a blur to the human eye. 



"At most, the snake strikes about one-half its length when de- 

 livering an accurately aimed blow, and generally strikes a much 

 shorter distance, in proportion to its length. Not unless frenzied 

 does it strike a distance equal to two-thirds its length, and such 

 blows are wild. No poisonous snake springs bodily at the object of 

 its anger, such a feat is physically impossible." 



The above facts, it will be remembered, are common to the poi- 

 sonous serpents. The following remarks of Mr. Ditmars treat 

 solely of the copperhead snake. The copperhead is known as the 

 highland moccasin, pilot snake, rattlesnake pilot and chunkhead. 

 The Copperhead is moderate in size and proportionately more slen- 

 der than the water moccasin. The scales are strongly keeled, and 

 the majority of the plates on the underside of the tail are in a single 

 row. After examining hundreds of specimens Mr. Ditmars failed 

 to find a single snake more than four feet long. The largest he 

 captured was three feet, nine inches; it was taken in Georgia, near 

 the coast, and is considerably larger than the average specimen. 

 The following measurements might be considered those of a large 

 example : 



Total length 33 inches 



Length of tail 4)4 



Diameter of body I K '• 



Width of head I 



Length of head iH " (or trifle less) 



"The copperhead is readily recognized," said Mr. Ditmars, "by 

 the markings. Above, the snake is hazel brown, with large cross 

 bands of rich, chestnut brown; these bands are narrow on the back 

 and very broad on the sides, and when looked at from above re- 

 semble the outlines of an hour glass. Beneath, the color is pink- 

 ish white, with a row of large dark spots on each side of the abdo- 

 men. From the sides, the majority of the bands appear as blunt 

 'YV with the stems directed upwards. On most specimens sev- 

 eral of the bands are broken on the back, forming inverted 'V- or 

 i Y' -shaped blotches on the sides. All the bands are darker at their 

 borders, and with some snakes they enclose light patches of color 

 that match the general hue of the body. 



