114 SERPENTS 



The young of the Moccasins are born alive, each one being 

 enclosed in a thin, transparent sac, which bursts immediately 

 upon reaching the outer air. The young are usually from 7 to 

 8 in number, but the last family born in the Reptile House con- 

 tained 14. The young are strongly marked by light and dark 

 bands, on account of which they are easily mistaken for young 

 copperheads. They also resemble young hog-nosed snakes. 



About the only redeeming feature in this serpent is the 

 fact that in captivity it is very hardy. During four years 

 we maintained a large collection in our Reptile House without 

 the loss of even the poorest specimen. It is a serpent of the 

 Gulf states, coming as far north as North Carolina and south- 

 ern Illinois, and extending westward to Texas. 



THE HARLEQUIN SNAKE 1 is a small, shiny, delicately 

 formed serpent, of rather quiet habits and retiring disposi- 

 tion. It belongs to the same Family (Elapidae) as the deadly 

 king-cobra of India! As far as it can be seen, it is instantly 

 recognizable by the alternation of brilliant coral-red, yellow, 

 and jet-black rings which encircle its body from head to tail- 

 tip. Unlike the broad-headed pit vipers, 2 the head of this 

 serpent is no wider than its neck, and as a special feature 

 its head is quite insignificant in size, but is always crossed 

 by a broad yellow band. It is well to remember from this 

 species that not all venomous serpents have lance-shaped heads. 



The range of this beautiful but rather stupid little serpent 

 begins in South Carolina, and includes all the Gulf States 



1 E'laps ful'vi-us. 



2 So called because of the existence of a round and deep pit on the side of the 

 head, about half-way between the eye and the end of the nose. In the rattle- 

 snakes this character is very noticeable. 



