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NEW TOEK STATE MUSEUM 



3 Heterodon platyrhinus 



Blowing adder 



Latreille 



De Kay. Heterodon platyrhinos 

 Jordan. Heterodon platyrhinos 

 Body short and stout, tail very short and rapidly tapering. Scales 

 (markedly carinated. Kostral compressed and recurved. Scales in 

 35 rows. 



Color yellowish gray 

 to brown, with dark 

 brownish to black 

 blotches on back, be- 

 coming black, half 

 rings on tipper side 

 of tail ; beneath, yel- 

 lowish to greenish 

 yellow. Length 30 

 inches. 



Melanistic individ- 

 uals of this species 

 seem to be quite com- 

 TTion. They are recorded by Cope from Scarboro, Westchester co.; 

 and have been taken by R. L. Ditmars in Sullivan county. 



"Eather common in the southern parts of New York." 

 De Kay. '42 



" One of our common snakes " in the Highlands. Mearns. '98, 

 p. 327 



" Very common in sandy regions in Orange county and southern 

 "Westchester county." Echel. 1901, p. 152 



"Not at all common in Eockland county." Wallace. 1901 

 This species, though entirely harmless, is commonly regarded as 

 venomous. When annoyed it flattens the anterior portion of its 

 hody, and hisses vigorously. Comparison of the above specitic 

 •description and figures with those of the copperhead (p. 385) will 

 .show the numerous points of difference. 



Fig. 4 Heterodon platyrhinus 



