14 YEARBOOK, PUBLIC MUSEUM, MILWAUKEE [Vol. III. 



neck, an elliptical or cat-like pupil of the eye, and long fangs which fold 

 against the roof of the mouth when it is closed. The identity of the 

 Massasauga and the Banded Rattlesnake is easily established by the 

 possession of a rattle, a unique appendage at the end of the tail that 

 distinguishes the representatives of the two genera of rattlesnakes 

 (Sistrurus and Crotalus) from the members of other genera of the fam- 

 ily. Other poisonous snakes of the United States such as the Coral 

 snake. Copperhead and Water Moccasin do not possess rattles even 

 though the last two species, belonging to the genus Akistrodon, are 

 members of the dreaded Rattlesnake family. 



Thus it appears that all snakes possessing a rattle are of the deadly 

 rattlesnake family but that all members of that family do not possess 

 rattles. Again, all the poisonous snakes of the country do not belong 

 to the family Crotalidae and some venomous species may even have a 

 strong resemblance to harmless forms. One cannot jump to the hasty 

 conclusion that any snake having a flat, triangular head is a member 

 of the rattlesnake family, or that any snake with a relatively thick 

 body is necessarily a poisonous serpent. We have in Wisconsin sev- 

 eral harmless species of snakes, the killing of which would certainly be 

 unjustifiable, although they comply with either of these specifications. 

 In fact, no general rule as to shape of head, thickness of body, character 

 of eye, coloration, or other external feature, will invariably prove a 

 venomous species except when a head-pit or rattle is present. 



The Massasauga is not usually confused with the Banded Rattle- 

 snake, although it occurs in Wisconsin. The average specimen of the 

 former is much smaller, is of a different ground-color and pattern and 

 does not often dwell where the latter is found. It may be identified 

 by its slaty-gray skin marked with a series of large, rich-brown blotches 

 on the back, faintly bordered with white, and by conspicuous streaks 

 of gray color on the head. It is essentially a snake inhabiting swampy 

 situations. 



It is, however, with the true Rattlesnake, Crotalus horridus, that 

 this article is especially concerned and further points as to its habits 

 and characteristics by which it may be distinguished from the Massa- 

 sauga, are treated in the remainder of the paper. 



Inasmuch as the Rattlesnake is one of the most, if not "the" most, 

 interesting serpent in Wisconsin, it was believed that a suitable mu- 

 seum group should be made showing this reptile in its natural environ- 

 ment. It was therefore decided to reproduce a typical Wisconsin 

 rattlesnake den. 



Mr. E. D. Ochsner of Prairie Du Sac and Mr. Elmer C. Keitel of 



