Connecticut western news., 1910-08-04
The Poison Apparatus.

CrOCaluS Iamlly or Itmlly OL habGLe- snakes.
 The Poison Apparatus.
 The Crotaline snakes, the Rattlesnake and Copperhead may be easily told. Be- fore dealing with their characters, let us understand what kind of apparatus fig ures in the formidable injuries they in flict, sometimes causing death with man in few hours-and, more rarely, with in few minutes time.
 These snakes do not sting. The inju- ry they infict is bite, dealt with pair of hollow teeth on the upper jaw. These teeth have an opening at their tip for the injection of the venom. They are exactly like hypodermic needles, and mankind has, in fact, copied the struct- ure of the serpent's fangs in manufact- uring that invaluable instrument of medical surgery.
 Each fang connects with a gland be- hind the eye, and this secretes poison which Nature has intended to be used in purposes of killing the prey-incident- ally for self defence. When the mouth is closed, the fangs fold back against the upper jaw.
 Thus we may understand the venom apparatus. It is in no way connected with the forked tongue. That organ is used solely for the purpose of feeling hence it is not sting.s
 How to Distinguish Crotailnes. | We may dispose of the Rattlesnakss with simple suggestion and that is, to look for the rattle; prominent and an absolutely unique organ among snakes. It's presence immediately brands Che owner. There is no possibility of making mistake. While there are a number Of species of Rattlesnakes, the charac- teristic naturally appeals to all. The amateur naturalist, prospector or the farmer is not so particular as to the ex- act species what they are desirous of ascertaining is, whether the snake is dangerous and the possession of rat tle shows this to be invariably the case
 It is mistake to think that poison ous snake may be told by thick body and fiat, triangular head that is quite distinct from the neck. Many wholly innocuous species have exactly these outlines and many of them are propor- tionately stouter of body and ugier in appearance than the dangerous Copper head snake or Highland Moccasin.
 The Copperhead Snake.
 The Copperhead snake (Highlard Moccasin or Pilot snake) belongs, as do the Rattlesnakes, to the sub-family of Pit vipers. On each side of the head, between the eye and the nostril. is deep pit. Here we have characteristic by which to immediately determine them. But there are other points: while our harmless snakes have two rows of plates on the under surface of the tail, these two poisonous species have single row of plates for the greater length of the tail. Our harmless snakes have the pupil of the eye round, and the Copper u6du nIltbh6 IlhS du Gl1lpllC -CdU- II AS- pupil.
 The Copperhead snake is pale. hazel brown; crossing this ground color are rich, reddish-brown bands, narrow on the back and very wide on the sides appearing, when examined from above, to have the outlines of an hour glass The top of the head often shows decid- edly coppery tinge; hence the popular name.
 Poisonous Snakes in Connecticut.
 In this state there are but two species of poisonous snakes. These are the Tim Der Rattlesnake and the Copperhead snake. The Black snake, Water snake Flat Headed adder, Checkered adder. and other serpents with formidable titles foundin this state are absolutely har,n- less.
 Concerning Poisonous Snakes.
 It is quite wrong to imagine pois, h. ous snake springs at an enemy. It never