SNAKES, TURTLES, LIZARDS, CROCODILES 



253 



when the snake strikes, they are erected and thrown for- 

 warcL The venom trickles through the holloAv fangs and 

 flows cUrectly into the -woirnds made by them. The fangs 

 are normahv shed every six or eight weeks and renewed 



Fig. 174. —Rattlesnake {Crolalus horridus) . 



as often. Therefore, the rattlesnake cannot be rendered 

 permanently harmless by the removal of its fangs. Death 

 by the bite of a rattlesnake is by no means sure, but the bite 

 always causes intense pain. 



The rattlesnakes,^ water moccasin, copperhead, and har- 

 ' The musiusaugaa arc included auioug; the rattlesnakes. 



