TERRARIA AND AQUA-TERRARIA 



Length 30 to 50 inches. Common in the Middle States and from Mary- 

 land to Kansas, and south, harmless and easily domesticated. 



Lampropeltis doliatus triangulus (Boie), or Milk Snake, House Snake, 

 is very similar to the foregoing, but the colors are bluish-grey or milk- 

 white, with three series of rounded brownish blotches, bordered with black, 

 and an arrow-shaped occipital spot; and a silvery-white lower surface, 

 marked with evenly-placed broad black lines and patches. Length 2^ 

 inches. Very common in New England and Middle States, south to 

 Virginia and west to Iowa. 



Heterodon platirhinos (Latr.), or Spreading Adder, has a large flat 

 triangular head with elongated and pointed snout, an elongated, thick 

 rounded body slightly flattened on the abdomen, covered above with 

 strongly carinated scales, and moderately large plates below. The tail is 

 long, narrow and pointed. The colors above are brownish, reddish or 

 iron-grey with dark blotches and half-rings on the tail. The lower surface 

 is yellowish-grey. This snake has a somewhat mottled appearance, as the 

 scales are often outlined with lighter colors, and the general color is vari- 

 able. Length 30 inches. It is harmless but when angry will depress 

 and expand the head like an adder, coiling, hissing and assuming a very 

 threatening aspect, but Is cowardly, and if hard pressed will feign to be 

 dead. It feeds on small animals, principally toads, small reptiles and 

 insects. Found abundantly in moist places from New Hampshire to 

 Florida, and west to the Rockies. 



Agkistrodon contortrix (Linn.), or Copperhead, Cotton-mouth, has a 

 large, triangular, posteriorly broad head with strong upper jaw and poison 

 fangs ; a short neck, an elongated heavy thick body, covered with carinated 

 rhomboidal scales above and moderately broad plates below, which ex- 

 tend nearly to the end of the thick, conical tail, ending in a horny point. 

 The color of the head and the ground color of the entire upper side is a 

 coppery red, lighter at the sides, where the scales are flecked with small 

 dark spots. Behind the occiput, to the end of the tail, are a series of 

 transverse bars, or X-shaped blotches, of dark-brown, lighter on the back 

 and darker to the sides, and also bordered with darker brown. The 

 under surface is dull flesh-pink, flecked with brown. Length 40 inches. 

 Frequents dark and shady places, sometimes in high grass, from western 

 New England to Florida, westward to Wisconsin, and south. Feeds on 

 small animals, principally birds and mice. A dangerous, poisonous 

 snake ; now only occurring in wild and uncultivated places. 



Cortalis horridus (Linn,), or Common Rattlesnake, has a very large, 

 triangular head with broad truncate snout, a short neck, and a thick 

 elongated body covered with rough carinated rhomboidal scales above and 



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