too 



THE RATTLESNAKE. 



a drop of blood oozed slowly out of the bird's bill. The reptile did not release the 

 bird after it was bitten, but began to swallow it almost immediately. 



Another titlark was then introduced by the keeper. This bird was, when I approached, 

 lying on its side as if dead. Another Water Viper seized its head and commenced 

 swallowing it, the bird struggling violently ; at each effort of deglutition the venomous 

 fangs were seen to move forward. In this case the poison did not take such rapid effect, 

 as the bird was evidently alive when it disappeared down the reptile's throat." 



The color of the Water Viper is greenish brown, taking a yellowish tone along the 

 sides, and banded with blackish brown. It seldom exceeds two feet in length. This 

 serpent is also known by the popular names of COTTON-MOUTH and WATER MOCASSIN 

 SNAKE. The COPPER-HEAD SNAKE of the same country (Cenchris contortrix) is closely 

 allied to it. 



WATER \lPER.-Cenchris plscivorua. 



THE well-known and terrible RATTLESNAKE now comes before us. Two species of 

 Serpents are popularly called by this name, both of which will be described. 



This dreaded reptile is a native of North America, and is remarkable for the singular 

 termination to the tail, from which it derives its popular name. It has already been 

 mentioned that the fer-de-lance has a long horny scale at the tip of its tail, and in the 

 Rattlesnake this appendage is developed into a rather complicated apparatus of sound. 

 At the extremity of the tail are a number of curious loose horny structures, formed, 

 of the same substance as the scales, and varying greatly in number according to the size 

 of the individual. It is now generally considered that the number of joints on the 

 " rattle " is an indication of the reptile's age, a fresh joint being gained each year. 





