ccxviii Ckotalid^. BEPTILES. CoLUBRiDa:. 
tinctive feature is the deep pit in the liead, just be-, 
fore the eyes. The genera Aghistrodon and Toxico- 
phis are not provided witli the rattles. 
THE NOETHEEN KATTLESNAKE [Crotalm duris- 
sus). — Galled, also, the Banded Rattlesnake. 'I’his 
well-known and dreaded creature is found in rocky 
places, as far north as upper portions of New En- 
gland and New York State, west as far as the foot 
of the Rocky Mountains, and southward to the Gulf 
of Mexico. Along the shores of Lake Ghainplain 
they are particularly abundant. DeKay records an 
item, taken from a local newspaper, as follows : “'J’wo 
men in three days killed eleven hundred and four 
Rattlesnakes qii the east side of Tongue Mountain, 
in the town of Bolton, N. Y.” The remarkable de- 
velopment of the tail, which is in effect a powerful 
rattle, is quite unique in the history of Reptiles. 
When suddenly disturbed, this creature throws itself 
into a coil, and the series of horny plates commence 
to vibrate with great rapidity; the Snake all the 
while ready to retreat, rather than attack, but yet, 
when approached, on the alert to strike its deadly 
fangs into whatever comes within its reach. The 
l)opular belief that a rattle is added every year is 
untrue. Dr. Holbrook says: “I have known two 
rattles added in one year, and Dr. Bachmann has ob- 
served four produced in the same length of time.” 
Mr. Peale, of the Philadelphia Museum, kei^t a 
female Rattlesnake fourteen years. It had when he 
first arrived eleven rattles. Several were lost an- 
nually, and new ones took their place. At its death, 
after fourteen years confinement, there were still but 
eleven joints, although it had increased four inches 
in length. Holbrook says; “The greatest number 
of rattles I have seen is twenty-one, all of which were 
perfect.” 'I’lie Golunibian Magazine, 1786, gives an 
account of a Rattlesnake which had the unprece- 
dented number of forty-four rattles. An opportunity 
is offered to study the more interesting of our Ameri- 
can Snakes at the New York Aquarium, and there 
witness the exhibition of the peculiar habits of the 
Rattlesnake. A slight touch of the creature will 
serve to put him on guard, and his rattle into motion. 
'I'he pretended “ charming powers ” of this Snake are 
not recognized by naturalists. 
THE BIAMOND EATTLESNAKE {G. horridus).—G. 
adamanteus, Beauv. ; 0. rhombifer, Latreille and 
others. 'I’his is strictly a southern species, being con- 
fined to the Atlantic seaboard below the Oarolinas. 
It inhabits damj) and shady places, keeping near the 
water, hence it is called “Water-rattle.” It is the 
largest of its genus, measuring, in some instances, 
eight feet in length. The Orotalus atrox is described 
by Baird and Girard as a 'I’exan species. Another 
is from Oregon, and is named 0. lucifer. Prom the 
Red River, in 'I'exas, a species is taken, which is 
named 0. confluentus. Say, and C. leconti. G. mo- 
lossus is found in New Mexico. 
GEOTJND EATTLESNAKE {Grotalo^ihorus miliar- 
iua). — This is called by Holbrook the Small Rattle- 
snake. It is about thirteen inches in length. Its 
habitat ranges from Garolinas to the Gulf States, 
'i’his is said to be very venomous, but its small size 
renders it less to be dreaded. Other species are 0. 
consors, Texas ; G. tergeminus, the Prairie Rattle- 
snake ; G. edwardsi, Texas; and G. kirtlandi, Ohio. 
THE COPPEEHEAD [Aghistrodon contortrix ). — 
'I’rogonocephalus of Holbrook. This is the dreaded 
Gotton-mouth of the Southern negroes. Its range is 
from the Catskill Mountains southward to the Gulf 
States. Its color is a hazel-brown, with a bright 
coppery hue upon its head. The length is about 
two feet. DeKay says the Gopperhead is a vicious 
reptile, and its bite is justly dreaded. Its poison is 
considered as deadly as that of the Rattlesnake. It 
is called the Dumb Rattlesnake, Red Adder, Red 
Viper, Deaf Adder and Ghunkhead, and is a sluggish 
creature, found mostly iu low meadow grounds and 
pastures, feeding on mice, frogs, etc. 
THE WATEE MOCCASIN [Toxitopliis piscivorus ). — 
Galled WaterVipee. 'J’rogonocephalus of Holbrook. 
'The range of this reptile is from the Pedee River, North 
Garolina to the Gulf States, and to a certain extent 
along the Mississippi River. While the Rattlesnakes, 
and many others which do not readily or habitually 
take to the water, feed upon the land, this Snake is 
emphatically an aquatic one. He pursues the fishes 
of small streams, and the small reptiles that live in 
such localities. Guvier’s 'T. tisiphone is thought to 
be the same. 'I'he Water Moccasin is the most 
dreaded of all noxious reptiles in our country. 'The 
Southern negroes regard it with es[)ecial terror, as 
they are much exposed in their work in the rice 
swamps. The reptile readily attacks anything, 
human or brute; in this respect it is quite different 
from the Rattlesnake, which shriidrs from everything 
save the small creatures that constitute its legiti- 
mate prey. 'The length given by Holbrook is nine- 
teen inches. It is very stout in proportion to its 
length. Baird and Girard record a species, '1'. pug- 
nax, from Indianola, 'I’exas. 
Family— GOLUBRIDJE. 
This is a very large family, numbering nearly one 
hundred genera, and nearly four hundred species. 
BEAD SNAKE [Elaps fulvius, Guv.) — Galled, also, 
Harlequin Snake. Inhabits Virginia, and south- 
ward to Arkansas. It is a very beautiful Snake, and 
though possessing poison fangs, is yet very gentle 
and mild in disposition. It is jet black, with seven- 
teen broad crimson rings, each bordered with yellow. 
'Two other species are recorded, E. tenere and E. 
tristis. Habitat, 'Texas. 
EIBBAND SNAKE [Eutainia saurita, B. and G.) 
— Galled, also. Swift Garter Snake. 'The generic 
term indicates the ribbon-like character of the mark- 
ings. Inhabits east of the Alleghanies, and south to 
Georgia. 
EAIEIES’ GAETEE SNAKE [E.faireyi, B. and 6.) 
— Found in the Mississippi Valley, northward to 
Wisconsin. 
SAY’S GAETEE SNAKE [E. proxima, B. and G.) — 
Habitat same as preceding. 
HAY’S GAETEE SNAKE [E. radix, B. and 0.)— 
Habitat, Lake Michigan to Oregon. 
