to escape unseen. ITevertheless, the copperhead is a rather dajigerous snaize , 

 giving no vrarning of its presence, and striking in any direction. 



Another sma.ll group of mildly poisonous snakes is foijoid along the 

 Mexican horder of the United States. Tlney have groaved teeth in the rear 

 of the upper jaw a.nd can scarcely "be considered dangerous to man. This 

 group includes the Je\7s-harp snalces ( Trimorphodoh spp.), the annulated 

 snake (Leptoderra septentrionalis) , the "bla.ck-handed snake (Coniophanes 

 imperia^lis) , and the Oxyhelis ( >" xyh e 1 i s m i c r op hthalnu s,) . A genus of 

 diminutive snakes Icnown as the "black -headed snakies ( Tantilla spp.) also 

 "belongs to this group and occurs throughout the saathern 'naif of the United 

 States. The last-named snakes are so small and have such minute fangs that 

 they arc totally harmless to man. 



Key to the Principa l Poisonous Sn akes of the United States 



Smooth-scaled snakes, characterized "by "brillia.nt colors; markings consisting of 

 "broad alternating rings of crimson and "black, separated from each other 

 "by narrower yellow rings; hlack bands as "broad as the crimson ; a pair of 

 short, erect longitudinally grooved fangs in front of upper ja.w; head 

 as wide e.s neck Coral , or harlequin, snakes — EIAPIDAE , 



Head "black infront, a yellow "b.and across center and "behind this 



a "black ring; yellow "body rings very narrow. Most common in the 

 Gulf States, "but extending north to ITorth Carolina, and in the 

 Liississippi Valley casually northward to Indiana and Ohio 

 Coral, or harlequin, snake — Micrurus fulvius . 



Head "black over greater portion; yellow "band on "back of head 

 and "behind this a red ring; jrellow "body rings "broader. 

 Southern Hew Mexico, Arizona, Tihuron Island in the Gulf of 

 California, and northern Mexico in region "bounded "by Rocky 

 Mountains and Colorado River. 

 Sonoran coral snake — Micruroides euryxanthus . 



Keel-scaled snakes, characterized hy d-'.iller colors; markings not forming 

 regular alternating "bands, hut consisting of olotches, diamonds, 

 or incomplete hands; a pair of long, hollow, freely mova"ble fangs 

 that fold "back against roof of liouth when js,ws are closed; deep pit 

 on face between nostril and eye; scales on upper parts keeled; 

 pupils elliptical in shajpe, vertical in p^oKiticn; head wider than 

 aeck , . .«Pit vipers"— CROTALIDAS. 



Tail without rattle, ending in a point; top of head covered 



with shields Agk istrodon . 



