The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-10-30
Tnr ta,IrEEHEAD-

and light-redd brown Either description
b. probably exact in many instances and ia all
eases 50 f4r ~ The writer knows, the under sur
face Of tile body is said 10 DC Gcsh-colored.
Minute dark spots which on the lower part Of
tie trunk become continent toward the tail are
tbiekly scattered over the dorsal and abdominal
sBTfsces. and there is a row Of large black dots
along each flank
As was before said, seTpents are classified &C
eoTding 10 tie size, shape aud distribution Of
their plates and scales, rather than with respect
O. the color, dimensions OF markings. IN this
one there are . rows Of scales, PhOmbOidal aud
eaEiuated, or keel shaped on the back, and
smoother below; further, the last Of the 80
abdominal scutes is Enthusiastically large.
A copperhead Is not a long snake the body
being thick ia proportion 10 its length, and the
tai. which is without Tattles, short conical aud
terminating IA horny spike
With regard 10 the animals relative proper
fions il l. pro ably true in most Instances that
the head forms about one twenty 18th part Of
ths entire length, and that il is very nearly as
broad - IL Is long. il H. also stated that in a
CDppefhead ~ inches long tie greatest eirculn-
ference Of the trunk would be about three aud
half inches.
Lizards mice. frogs and small birds usually
FORM THE PREY
Of deaf adder" as the c0ppeTbead is fire.
eueutly called, although lie sense Of hearing
j.
members Of order that, a rule distiu-
fuishes sound through vibrations acting upon
tie terminal hlamcutE Of their cutancous
Derrcz, rather than by means Of that special
izcd auditory apparatus belonging 10 more
highly developed creatures.
When the mouth Is opened, IL appears, as is
also the case with other serpents 10 be dis
prOpOrtiOaatcy wide This is owing 10 the
fact that the lower jaws, instead Of being let
into sockets like those which form the same
JOINTS ln many other animals, are attached by
elastic ligaments and muscles 20 another bone
Besides they arc united ia front by similar
pigments instead Of a bony suture, and this is
also the mode Of union between both upper
jaws with the intermediary bone. aud there
is the same junction between the palate bones
likewise. Therefore, when this animal opens
lbs mouth, u looks IL the top Of 10 Eheai
were coming Of. because, owing b. the peculiar
calculations Just described the brain case
seems 10 be tilted considerably backwards, and
nearly IL not entirely, disappears in a front
view.
Of course this anatomical arrangement is an
adjustment 10 the necessities Of life. SeTpcnis
Of all kinds gorge their food, and must be able
20 INCEST IL in as large quantities as can enter
the commencement Of their digestive tract.
Further, this
CAPE OF THE JAWS
IL equally essential 10 the use Of both their
prehensile teeth and poison -fangs. The latter
organs, among eopperheads, arc erectile. per
Fious, TeeuTyed langs similar in all respects 10
those belonging 10 mathematics, they are used
by means Of the same mechanism. aud act in
the destruction Of prey by means Of poison
OF like nature.
In several cstses Of this kind Of snakc.bite
which have eoEe under the writer's notice,