REMARKS ON SOME OF THE FLORIDA 
SNAKES. 
Tue snakes of Florida may be divided into two classes, the 
venomous and the non-venomous. Out of the large number of 
species known to occur in the State but four may be classed as 
venomous, and two of these are so small as to be harmless, unless 
handled or touched with the hand or bare foot; a third, the cotton- 
mouth moccasin, is by no means a common species; and the fourth, 
the well-known diamond rattlesnake, although exceedingly venom- 
ous, is luckily not aggressive, and unless irritated or touched, will 
rarely attempt to strike. 
All venomous snakes have grooved or perforated fangs in the 
upper jaw; in some permanently fixed, in others erectile, but always 
showing the aperture through which the poison is ejected. Non- 
venomous species have fixed teeth in the upper jaw in which there 
is no groove or poison duct. 
The venomous snakes which are found in Florida are as follows : — 
CROTALUS ADAIMANTEUS Beauv. 
Diamond Rattlesnake. 
Unlike the cotton-mouth moccasin the diamond rattlesnake is not 
naturally vicious or aggressive, preferring rather to avoid man than 
to attack him. It is a very dangerous snake, however, as its ‘ bite ” 
nearly always proves fatal. Alcohol and stimulants will often pre- 
vent any serious results from the the bite of Western and Northern 
rattlesnakes (C. horridus), but these remedies have not proved 
efficacious in cases where persons have been bitten by the Florida 
species. 
In very large snakes the fangs are often three quarters of an 
inch, or more, in length, and they strike with much force. When 
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