Hurter — Herpetology of Missouri. 207 



Color. — Color above of a peculiar yellowish pink (in life), often pale 

 drab with a series of inverted Y-shaped brown marks on each side. 

 Beneath yellowish with a series of black blotches on each side. Top of 

 head often bright copper, whence the name "Copperhead." On the 

 sides of the head a white, yellowish band, which posteriorly rounds the 

 angle of the mouth and extends forward on the lower labials. Each 

 parietal with a brown spot. "When born, the young snakes have vivid 

 sulphur-yellow taiis. 



Size. — Total length 1000 mm.; tail 130 mm. Another specimen, total 

 length 990 mm.; tail 110 mm. 



Habitat. — From Massachusetts south to Florida, west 

 to Texas, north through Oklahoma and Kansas. Missouri 

 localities : — St. Louis, Jefferson, Shannon, Ripley, Howell, 

 Ozark, Stone, Johnson, Miller, Randolph, Warren, Mont- 

 gomery, and Pike Counties. In Illinois St. Clair County. 



Habits. — The Copperhead is of rather common occur- 

 rence. It is mostly found on shady, rocky hill- sides, and 

 not far from water. It feeds on birds, small rodents, 

 frogs, and snakes, but becomes itself in turn a victim of 

 some other snakes, as the Blue Racer (see Bascanion con- 

 strictor) and King Snakes. In the spring of the year I 

 caught two middle sized Copperheads, which I kept alive 

 for observation. I supplied them regularly with food 

 and water, but they refused to eat. They held out a whole 

 year, finally dying of starvation. 



^^When disturbed in its native haunts this snake will 

 generally make an effort to glide quietly away if escape 

 is open. If caught at close quarters, and flight be impos- 

 sible, it defends itself vigorously, throwing the body into 

 a series of irregular loops and striking in the direction 

 of the enemy. At such times a rapid, vibratory move- 

 ment is communicated to the tail, which produces a dis- 

 tinct, buzzing sound, if the serpent be among dry leaves. 

 Throughout all these manoeuvres the snake is usually 

 backing away in an endeavor to make a dash for safety, 

 by gliding into a nearby friendly thicket or among the 

 rocks. Like the moccasin, if held down with a stick in an 

 endeavor to effect its capture, it fights furiously, thrash- 



