676 REPTILES — ELAPID^. 



inches ; transverse diameter of head IJ inches ; of neok, f inch ; oiroamference of body, 

 4 inches. 



Habitat, Vermont, Massaohasetts, Connecticut, New York, PeuQisylvania, South 

 Carolina, Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Kansas and Ohio. 



Genus T0XIG0PHI8. Troost. 



Cephalic region covered with eleven plates, iri'iisil .ia I ^ii^jroili^ii'isi ia .4 line 

 with eyes, the occipital situated more posteriorly; anteorbit^ls two, elongated longi- 

 tudinally; nasals two; loral absent; head triangalar; dorsal scales carinated, in 25 

 rows; tail moderate, tapering to a corneous point; caudal ralitlenoae; uco3teg3a bifid 

 posteriorally. Extralimital. 



ToxicoPHis piscivoEus Lacepede. 



Water jyioccasin. 



Crotalus piscivorus, Lacispbds. 



Scytalus piaeivorus, Latreillb, Daudin, Harlajst. 



Coluber aquations, Shaw. 



Nairix pisoivorus, Mbrrem. 



Acontias leucostomua, Troost. 



Trigonocepliahis xnsclvorus, Holbrook, Gray, Dumeril and Bibron, DeKay. 



ToxieopMs 2>i!!t-tvoru8, Baird and GiraRD. 



Ancistrodon pisdvorus, Jordon, 



Color above brown, with dark vertical bars of black and red; head purplish black ; 

 beneath black, blotched with dirty yellow; a yellow band in oocii.ital region ; vertical 

 plate as long as ocoipitals ; labials 8 above, H below; gastroategss, 135-140 ; urosteges, . 

 42-46. Length, 28 inohea; head, If; tail, 4^ ; transveise diameter of head, IJ Inches; 

 of neck, f inch ; olvcumference of bj ly 4 iooliea. 



Habitat, North Garoliiia, South Cxrolina, Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee, -Southern 

 Illinois, and Arkansas. 



The Water Moccasin is more aggressive than the Rattlesnakes, attacking everything 

 that comes within reach. Its mode of attack is *o erect U» head, open its mouth, and 

 strike without warning. It is decidedly aquatic, being always found near or in water, 

 and in swampy places. 



FAMILY ELAPID^. 



Teeth in bo^h jaws ; small poison fiings in front; body colnbriform ; head oval, not 

 separable from the neck, and covered with plates ; pit between the eye and nostril 

 wanting ; dorsal scales smooth ; urosteges bifid ; tail pointed, without rattle. Extra- 

 limital. 



Genus ELAPS. Schneider. 



Cleft of mouth moderate ; cejjhalic and ten.poral region with plates ; postorbitak two; 

 anteorbitals one ; nasals two ; labials and inframaxillaries large ; post-abdominal 

 scutella entire. 



Elaps fulvius Cuvier. 



Bead Snalie. 



J^et black, yellow and red bands alternating render tuis species easily recognizable. 

 HaTjitatj Virgiaia, Georgia, Florida, Miasissippi, Texas, and Arkansas. 



