CLASS III. REPTILIA: ORDER 4. OPIIIDIA. 389 



to be to give warning of the presence of the animal, which is one of the most deadly of serpents. 

 When suddenly disturbed, it usually throws itself into a coil and rapidly vibrates its rattles, 

 which can be heard at the distance of a few yards ; it then springs, sometimes four or five feet, 

 fixing its fengs in its victim. The bite is usually fotal to man, if preventive means are not im- 

 mediately applied. It is not of a vicious disposition, never going out of its way to inflict its 

 deadly bite, and only making an attack when intruded upon. Sometimes, though rarely, this 

 is done without its warning rattle. It is said that hogs defy this reptile, and feed and fatten 

 upon it ; this is improbable. I)r. De Kay states instances in which swine have been killed by 

 the bite of rattlesnakes. It was formerly supposed that this, as well as some other serpents, 

 had the power of fascination ; this is now discredited. It appears that birds, seeing a serpent 

 near their nest, often flutter around the intruder, and sometimes coming too near, are suddenly 

 snapped up by their enemy. Cats often catch birds that flutter around them merely from agi- 

 tation, and these animals have hence been supposed to possess powers of fascination. 



The Common Rattlesnake is found throughout the United States, generally in rocky and hilly, 

 or mountainous regions. It feeds on birds, rabbits, squirrels, rats, etc. In the autumn it retires 

 to some deep crevice among the rocks, or hole underground, and lies in a torpid state till spring. 

 Often great numbers are found lying twined together in heaps ; sometimes striped snakes are 

 mingled with them. In the settled parts of the country they are now rare ; but in some wild 

 regions, even at the North, they are common. Dr. De Kay tells us that a few years since, one 

 thousand one hundred and four were killed in three days by two men on the east side of Tongue 

 Mountain, in "Warren County, New York. They were killed for their oil, which is deemed a 

 cure for certain diseases. Lawsoii says, " they cast their skins every year, and commonly abide 

 near the place where their lost skin lies. These cast skins are used in medicine, and the rattles 

 are esteemed good to expedite the birth. The gall is made up into pills with clay for use, being 

 given in pestilential fevers and the small-pox." It is hardly necessary to say that these idle 

 notions have passed away. 



Other species found in the United States are the Water Rattlesnake, C. adamanteus, six to 

 eight feet long, found in the Carolinas and Florida; the Oregon Rattlesnake, C. Oregonus, 

 found in the country west of the Rocky Mountains, and along the Oregon and Columbia Rivers. 

 The C. horridus is a South American species of great size and virulence. 



Genus CROTALOPIIORUS : Crotalophorus. — This includes several species of inferior size, as 

 the Small Rattlesnake, C. miliarius, common in the Southern and Western States ; the C 

 tergeminus, found in the Rocky Mountains, and the C. Kirtlandi, found in Ohio and Michigan. 



Genus TRIGONOCEPHALUS : Trlgonocciilialus. — This includes several species which are 

 very venomous, but without rattles. The Copper-IIead, T. contortrix^ is thirty to forty inches 

 long; copper-colored with reddish-brown blotches on the back; the head, large, and very dis- 

 tinct from the neck ; the mouth large, and the fangs large and yellowish-white. It is a vicious 

 reptile of sluggish habits ; when approached, it raises its head and darts out its tongue. Its 

 bite is dangerous, often ftital. It feeds on field-mice, frogs, and young birds ; its haunts are in 

 low meadows, and moist pastures. It goes under the popular names of Chunk-Head^ Red 

 Adder, Copper-Bell g, Red Viper, Deaf Adder, mid Dumb Rattlesnake. It is found in some of the 

 Eastern and in the Middle, Southern and Western States. It seems to be nowhere abundant. 



The Water Viper, or Water Moccasin, T. jnscivorus, is twenty to twenty-four inches long, 

 of a dark-brown color above and leaden-gray beneath ; length about two feet ; inhabits damp 

 or swampy places ; sometimes is found in Avater, from which it is never far removed. It feeds 

 chiefly on fish. In summer, numbers of them are seen hanging from low branches of trees over 

 lakes and rivers. It attacks every thing that comes within its reach, and is especially dreaded 

 by the negroes on the rice plantations. It is found m the Southern States and also in Tennessee, 

 where it is called Cotton-mouth. The T. atrofuscus is tAvo feet long, resembles the copper- 

 head, and is found in Tennessee. 



Genus CRASPEDOCEPIIALUS : Crasjjedocephalus. — This includes several South American 

 species. The C. lanceolatus, is five or six feet long, and is much dreaded in the West Indies. 

 It frequents the corn-fields, living principally on the rats that abound in them. 



