The coral, or harlequin, snakes ( Hicrurus and Micraroides ) are 

 members of the cohra family (Elapidae) that have beconie adapted to a 

 suhterraneaii existence, and occur from South Carolina and Arizona to South 

 America.. They have solid, rigid fangs rzith a groove on the front surface 

 and are frequently confused rrith the nonvenomous scarlet snake (Cemophqra 

 coccinea ) and scarlet king snake (Larnpropeltis elapsoides) . The former dif- 

 fers from the harlequin snake (and also from the scarlet king snake vhich 

 it resemoles very closely) in having the ventral surface yellowish vfnlte; 

 the scarlet king snake differs from the harlequin in having the "black cross 

 "bands less than half the vzidth of the crimson. 



The Crotalidae, or "pit vipers", have holloir fangs that fold "back 

 against the roof of the mouth rrhen the jaws are closed. They occur through- 

 out Temperate and Tropical- America and include a n-ura"ber of venomous species 

 that are familiarly knoTvn "by the follomng names: Rattlesnakes ( Crotalus ) , 

 massasauga ( Sistrurus ) , cotton-mouth water moccasin ( Agkistrodon piscivorus ), 

 and copperhead ( Agkistrodon mokasen ) . 'f.o true vipers are found on the 

 American continents. Tlie well-knov;n rattlesnakes, • of viiich there are a 

 nuiii"ber of species, are the most specialized of all the venomous snakes. The 

 rattlesnake race has "been extraordinarily adaptable, as its mem'bers have 

 come to occupy the most diverse conditions of environment, including ex- 

 tremes Both of humidity and aridity. ■ ■ 



Txie southeastern diamond"back rattlesnake ( Crotalus adamanteus ) is 

 also known as the water rattler "because it is partial to the neigh'borhood 

 of water and is a good swimmer; yet others , the pallid rattler ( Crotalus 

 m itchellii ) , for example, live in typical deserts. The prairie rattler 

 ( Crotalus c. c'onfluentus ) occurs over the dryish areas of the G-ree.t plains, 

 while a related 'foi^, the "banded rattlesnalce ( Crotalus horridus ) , is limited 

 to the tim"bered areas of the eastern parts of the- United States. It is 

 certaijc^ that rattlesnakes do not habitually climb trees, because they are 

 poorl;/ adapted to such an accomplishment, yet there is unquestionable 

 proof that they do so occasionally. It reauires but little more climbing 

 ability to scale a rough-ba.rked slanting tree than the face of a rocky ledge. 



The pigmy rattler and massasauga ( Sistrurus ) are diminutive forms of 

 rattlesnakes ( Crotalus ). the largest attaining a length of ner±Tly three feet 

 arid a t'nickness of less than one inch; their range is chiefly east of the 

 Rocky i.Iountains, except for Arizona, and they are charactejristically forms 

 of the prairies and their swamp^s and marshes • Tiie diamondback rattlers 

 ( Crot alus adanpnt eus and C. atrox ) are unquestionably the most excitable aJid 

 dangerous of all ITorth AmericaJi pit vipers. The red rattler ( Crotalus exs'a l) 

 is said to be the most sluggish. The cotton-mouth water moccasin freo^uents 

 the lowlands along the southern rivers and the adjoining swamps into diich 

 the rivers overflow during high water; when surprised it throws its" head-'back 

 and opens its mouth, disclosing the white lining. In the ITorthern States 

 the copperhead is partial to rocky places in the vicinity of timber, marshes, 

 or abandoned stone quarries; in the South it frequents higher and drier 

 ground than around the marshes; unless cornered, this snake usually attempts 



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