REPTILES OF THE VICINITY OF NEW YORK CITY 113 



pit between the eve and the nostril, a characteristic of the crotaHne 

 snakes that has led to their popular title, " the Pit Vipers." 



The upper jaw of the Copperhead is provided with two long 

 fangs which fold against the roof of the mouth when the latter is 

 closed. These teeth are hollow and are provided with an open- 

 ing at the tip for the ejection of poison. They are precisely the 

 same in their formation as the needle of a hypodermic syringe. 

 The poison is secreted in glands behind the reptile's eyes, and 

 is forced through the fangs by muscular contraction during the 

 act of biting. 



The Copperhead is the most beautiful of our local snakes, 

 its delicate colors so closely resembling the falling leaves of 

 autumn that it is with difficulty to be distinguished from its 

 surroundings at that time of the year. When annoyed, it im- 

 parts a rapid, vibratory movement to the tail, whicli when among 

 dried leaves produces a distinct rattling, audible for several feet. 

 Its bite is very dangerous, but the snake is not habitually hostile 

 and it prefers flight to combat. When cornered, however, it will 

 fight bravely, striking from a partly coiled position. The food of 

 this snake consists of small mammals, birds and frogs. From 

 six to nine voung are produced alive during August or early in 

 September. The tails of the young snakes are bright sulphur- 

 yellow, which tint gradually fades as the reptile matures. A 

 large adult specimen will measure three feet in length. 



Range: Massachusetts to Florida, westward to Texas. 



Local distribution: Pahsades of the Hudson River, northern 

 Westchester, Rockland, Putnam and Orange Counties, N. Y. 

 Prefers thick, damp woods and in some districts (Orange and 

 Rockland Counties) is moderately abundant. 



With the rattle as an unvarying characteristic, the dangerous 

 Banded Rattlesnake, Crotalus horridus (Figs, i and 18), may 

 be instantly recognized. Female specimens are gener- Banded 

 ally sulphur-yellow or brown, with black, or dark- Rattle- 

 brown transverse bands; the males are usually very snake, 

 dark brown or black with little trace of the bands, except yellow 

 markings that show the location of the borders of the transverse 

 blotches. The scales are roughly keeled. The head is triangular 

 and covered with small, irregular scales. 



