394 



LOWER VERTEBRATES. 



along the sides of the skull, and open into the tubular fangs. The scales of the body 

 are keeled and the anal scale is entire. 



The introductory genus is Ancistrodon. It is represented north of Mexico by two 

 species which are alike in having the sub-triangular head distinct from the neck, and 

 the tail short and tapering to a point. There are both frontals and parietals, and the 

 loreal may be present or absent ; the scales of the body are arranged in twenty-three 

 or twenty-five rows, and the pits at the side of the face, are well represented. 



The so-called highland-moccasin, A. atrofuscus, has not been collected since the 

 time of its original description. It and A. piscivorus are undoubtedly the same 

 species. 



-^^^^^'~i.j::Xdm0^C'S 



Fig. 227. — Ancistrodon contortrix, copperhead. 



The copperhead, A. contortrix, has an extended geogi-aphical range, being found 

 from New England to Florida, and from the Atlantic to the Mississippi, and is popu- 

 larly known as the copperhead, because of its dark bronze-colored head. Though it 

 is occasionally found in meadows, in the neighborhood of water, searching for mice 

 and small birds, its proper home is in the wild mountainous districts where the preg- 

 nant females are known to gather in large numbers and entwine themselves, as do the 

 European adders, into a huge mass of living venom, presenting to an intruder a most 

 formidable appearance. The young, which, like others of the sub-order, are brought 

 forth alive and active, show from the first a most irascible temper, when only a few 

 hours old striking right and left, apparently trying to test the power of their sharp 

 and delicate fangs. The number born of one female is not known to exceed seven. 

 The young probably hibernate with their parents. 



