PIT VIPERS. 319 



kill the Serpent when coiled, by striking with the hoofs and teeth, and in some regions derive no 

 small part of their subsistence from this source. The popular belief that the venom of the Rattle- 

 snake is innocuous to hogs is merely a partial statement of the fact that the fluid usually fails 

 to enter the circulation through the layer of adipose tissue with which these animals are com- 

 monly covered. The venom is conceded to be innocuous when introduced to the stomach, and 

 the flesh of the Rattlesnake is as edible as that of other Serpents. The fatality of the Rattle- 

 snake's bite is by no means the constant element generally supposed, but the result may vary from 

 the slightest amount of poisoning to one rapidly fatal." 



" There seems to be a special and peculiar enmity existing between the Rattlesnake and Moccasin 

 Snake, and the Black Snake (Bascanium constrictor) and the ' King Snake ' (Ophibolus getulus, 

 Say) ; these last two species waging a constant warfare against the former, and invariably 

 conquering, according to information received from reliable parties. After the conflict, the 

 vanquished is eaten by the victor. In one case reported, a large Black Snake had seized a 

 Rattlesnake and entwined two or more folds behind his head, and several six or eight inches farther 

 back ; then by muscular effort had torn the body. It is a well-known fact that both Rattlesnakes 

 and Moccasins will endeavour to get away from the ' King Snake,' and in the South this beautiful 

 and harmless species is protected in view of this fact." 



In Surinam, Guiana, and the Brazils there is a fine Snake called the Bushmaster,* which 

 grows to more than six feet in length, and it is interesting from having many of the habits of the 

 true Rattlesnakes, and a rudiment of a rattle. The structures at the end of the tail consist of ten 

 or twelve rows of spiral scales which are slightly recurved or hooked at their summits. It does 

 not climb trees, but frequents underwood near the rivers, and is well known for its venomous 

 powers. The natives call it "Surukuku." 



Some of the Pit Vipers have a large plate on the top of the head instead of the small scales of 

 the genus Crotalus, and are included in the genus Trigonocephalus, and Charles Darwin notices 

 one in his usual inimitable manner, at Bahia Blanca : 



" Of reptiles there are many kinds ; one Snake (a Trigonocephalus, or more properly a Cophias), 

 from the size of the poison channel in its fangs, must be very deadly. Cuvier, in opposition to 

 some other naturalists, makes this a sub-genus of the Rattlesnake, and intermediate between it and 

 the Viper. In confirmation of this opinion, I observed a fact, which appeal's to me very curious and 

 instructive, as showing how every character, even though it may be in some degree independent of 

 structure, has a tendency to vary by slow degrees. The extremity of the tail of this Snake is termi- 

 nated by a point, which is very slightly enlarged, and as the animal glided along it constantly vibrated 

 the last inch ; and this part striking against the dry grass and brushwood, produced a rattling noise 

 which could be distinctly heard at the distance of six feet. As often as the animal was irritated and 

 surprised, its tail was shaken, and the vibrations were extremely rapid. Even as long as the body re- 

 tained its irritability a tendency to this habitual movement was evident. This Trigonocephalus has, 

 therefore, in some respects the structure of Vipers, with the habits of a Crotalus ; the noise, however, 

 being produced by a simpler device. The expression of the Snake's face was hideous and fierce ; the 

 pupil consisted of a vertical slit in a mottled and coppery iris ; the jaws were broad at the base, and 

 the nose terminated in a triangular projection. I do not think I ever saw anything more ugly, except- 

 ing, perhaps, in some of the Vampire Bats. I imagine this repulsive aspect originates from the features 

 being placed in position, with respect to each other, somewhat proportional to those of the human face, 

 and thus we obtain a scale of beauty." 



North Carolina and to the south, and across to the Rocky Mountains, seems to be the country 

 where a fish-eating Snake,t with a large plate on its vertex, and a pointed rattle-less tail, is found. It 

 is usually called the Water Viper. The Copper-head Snake,! often wrongly called the Moccasin 

 Snake, belongs to this group also, and preys upon frogs and birds, and probably fishes. It has a bad 

 character amongst the inhabitants of the United States south of the forty-fifth parallel of latitude. 



The last group of the American Pit Vipers is that of the Lance Snakes. One of these is 

 the Yellow Viper, of Martinique, called Fer-cle Lance there, and the Rat-tailed Serpent, at St 



* Lachcsis mutus. t Cenchris piscivorus. 



J Trigcmocephalus (Ancistrodon) contcfrtrix. Bothrops lanceolate. 



