180 



I'OPULAR OFFICIAL fiUIDK. 



21 



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RHINOCEROS VIPER 



type of the harmless snakes. It is a serpent of great vigor 

 and activity in running, climbing, and swimming ; it pos- 

 sesses great courage, and seeks prey of many kinds in all 

 kinds of situations. 



The Garter Snake, (Eutaenia sirtalis), is more frequently 

 seen in the eastern United States than any other serpent. 

 Although the warfare waged against it is perpetual, regard- 

 less of the fact that it is as harmless as a fly, its numbers do 

 not sensibly diminish. 



The Hog-Nosed Snake, "Puff Adder," or " Sand- Viper, " 

 (Heterodon-platyrhinus) , represents a large and important 

 Family, and, despite its dangerous appearance and terrify- 

 ing names, it is quite harmless. It represents one of Na- 

 ture's methods for protecting harmless and inactive crea- 

 tures, by making them resemble others which are dangerous. 



Venomous Reptiles. — Because of the number of species 

 of rattlesnakes which have found lodgment in the United 

 States, and the trouble they have caused in a few localities, 

 we are specially interested in all serpents which are danger- 

 ous to man. The species named below represents the deadly 

 genera which civilized man has most cause to fear. 



The Harlequin Snake, or Coral Snake, {Elaps fuhnus), 

 represents a genus which contains many species, though but 

 few of them occur in America. 



The King Cobra, (Naja bungaris), from the Malay Penin- 



