THE SNAKES 353 



vius. The two latter species have been heretofore 

 treated. 



Thus we have an idea, collectively, of the various 

 dangerous snakes of the eastern United States. In- 

 cidentally it might be said that the Timber Rattlesnake 

 and the Copperhead Snake range southward to the 

 northern portion of the Florida peninsula. In the ex- 

 treme South the Copperhead also extends its range 

 westward to the Rio Grande, in Texas. The distribu- 

 tion of the western snakes may be appreciated by an 

 examination of the list on a preceding page. 



Sistrurus contains three small rattlesnakes recog- 

 nized by the large, regularly-arranged shields on the top 

 of the head. The Pigmy Rattlesnake, S. miliarius, 

 also called the Ground Rattlesnake, is common in the 

 southeastern portion of the United States. The total 

 length is about twenty inches and the coloration is at- 

 tractive, consisting of a gray body hue with a row of 

 jet black saddles, between which, on the dorsal region, 

 are interspaces of a reddish tinge. The rattle is so tiny 

 it can be heard but a few feet. If met with prompt 

 and efficient treatment the bite of this species is seldom 

 followed by dangerous symptoms. A larger species of 

 Sistrurus^ the Massasauga, S. catenatus, inliabits the 

 Central States, whence a variety of it extends into the 

 Southwest. 



The typical rattlesnakes — genus Crotalus — ^have the 

 top of the head covered with small scales, except, with 

 a few species, a few crowded plates directly over the 

 snout. 



One of the most showy species is the South Amer- 

 ican Rattlesnake, Crotalus durissus. Two phases of 

 coloration are found. On each the ground color is rich 

 yellow or pale olive; a chain of large brown rhombs, 



