Coluber getulus, Lin. This species attains to a more considerable magnitude than authors have stated. I saw a specimen on Cumberland Island, Georgia, at least five feet long. The ground colour, by the direction of light in which I viewed him, was deep glaucous or livid, he was much more robust than C. Constrictor.[36] He permitted my near approach, without agitating his tail in the menacing manner of the serpent just mentioned, and of the crotali, or manifesting any signs of fear. In my anxiety to secure him, he eluded my grasp, and by a sudden and rapid exertion, disappeared, with all the rapidity of movement so remarkable in the constrictor. This last, from his celerity, is known in many districts by the name of Racer.
Coluber heterodon. This viperine species, of which Latreille has formed a genus under the name of Heterodon, varies considerably in its markings, and like most of our serpents, is not constant in the number of its plates and scales, (126, 48-138, 42-141, 42, &c.) perhaps too much reliance has been placed upon colour, and upon the number of the plates and scales beneath the body, of the Ophidiæ generally. In the form of the anterior termination of the head, the heterodon is remarkable, and a good specific character may be obtained from the orbital scales, which are eleven or twelve in number; the parabolic curve which passes through the eyes, and terminates at the maxillary angles, is also generally present. This same serpent was figured in Deterville's ed. of Buffon, under the name of Coleuvre cannelee. The heterodon abounds in many sandy situations, and near the sea-shore. Several persons pursuing a pathway, passed within a few inches of one of them without his betraying any emotion, but the moment he perceived me advancing with my eye fixed upon him, he with a sudden exertion assumed a defensive attitude, by elevating the anterior portion of his body, flattening his head, and 3 or 4 inches length of his neck; these he waved with a steady and oblique motion from side to side, uttering at the same time an audible sibilation, he made no attempt to escape, and seemed absolutely fearless until taken. They have the habit of the vipera, but not the fangs. It seems to be synonymous with Coluber simus. This species is often called mockeson. Dr. Shaw's description of Boa contortrix seems to indicate this species. Was he deceived by an erroneous reference to Catesby's figure of this Hog-nose? or by Forster's catalogue?
Coluber punctatus. A good diagnostic character of this species, in addition to the cervical cestus, rests in the triple series of abdominal dots; but these are often wanting or obsolete in the young specimen, in which state it is probably the torquatus of Shaw. Sometimes the dots are wanting on the neck and near the cloaca; and in one aged individual, the intermediate line occurred double, and confluent on the throat.
Coluber fulvius, this species is said by Daudin to be closely allied to his C. coccineus, notwithstanding the difference in plates and scales. But it is certainly very distinct by other characters, and strikingly so in its perfectly annular black and red bands; the latter are margined with yellowish and spotted with black. A specimen has 224 plates and 32 scales, total length 21 inches, length of the tail 19/10 inch. The coccineus has the under part of the body whitish, immaculate. The fulvius seems to belong to the genus vipera; it has the fangs, but not the orifice behind the nostril, which communicates with the reservoir of venom, so conspicuous in the crotali, &c.
Ophisaurus ventralis. The tail of this snake not only breaks in pieces when struck with a weapon, but portions of it are thrown off at the will of the serpent. This singular fact I witnessed in Georgia. This is one of the many which are called horn-snakes. A tip of the tail of one of them was once brought to me as having been taken from a recently withered tree, which the bearer assured me was destroyed by the insertion of this formidable instrument, and it was not without considerable difficulty he was convinced of the innocence of the tail, and of having been the dupe of a knave. There seems to be a peculiar character in the mode of imbrication of the scales of this species, each one of these at the lateral edges, passes beneath the lateral scale on one side, and over the edge of the opposite one. It has been described under five different generic names, and four different specific ones.
The Crotali do not gain a single joint only to the rattle annually, as is generally supposed. They gain more than one each year, the exact number being probably regulated in a great measure by the quantity of nourishment the animal has received. Rattle-snakes in Peale's Museum have been observed to produce 3 or 4 in a year, and to lose as many from the extremity during the same time. Hence it is obvious, that the growth of these curious appendages is irregular, and that the age of an individual cannot be determined from their number. Mr. Rubens Peale informed me, that a female of Crotalus horridus, Beauv. durissus, Daud. which lived in his Museum more than fourteen years, had eleven joints to her rattle when first in his possession; that several joints were acquired and lost annually, and that at her death, which occurred last year, she had the same number as when brought to the Museum; she had, however, during that time received an accession of four inches to her length. Her death was occasioned by an abortion.
The C. adamanteus, Beauvois. Rhombifer, Daud. is by much the largest of our North American serpents, and doubtless is the species which Catesby saw a specimen of, eight feet long.
Crotalus miliarius varies in some characters from those laid down by authors. A specimen within my view has five dorsal series, of alternate, irregularly orbicular black spots, those of the intermediate series are obsolete, and slightly connected across the back, those of the vertebral series have not red centres, and are edged with a white line; the ventral spots are disposed adventitiously, so as not to be traced into longitudinal series; they are large, black, irregularly orbicular, and occupy about one half of the surface, which is white. Ventral plates 140; subcaudal, 33, of which the six terminal ones are bifid. Joints of the rattle with but one transverse contraction on the middle of each, besides the terminal contraction. Total length 1 foot 4¼ inches, tail two inches. It appears to be more vindictive than the two species before mentioned. The individual here noticed we encountered in East Florida; he struck at Mr. W. Maclure and myself successively as we passed by him, without any previous intimation of his presence, owing to the inaudible smallness of his rattle, and its having but three joints; he was killed by Mr. T. Peale, (whom we preceded) while preparing for another assault. This incident is noted as a contrast to the anecdote of the Coluber heterodon.
Salamandra alleganiensis, Daud. appears to be synonymous with S. gigantea of Dr. Barton. It was first described by Mr. Latreille in Deterv. Ed. of Buffon, tom. 11. The name alleganiensis, although defective, as it indicates no character, has however the unalienable right of priority.
Salamandra subviolacea, Barton. This name has been rejected by Mr. Daudin, and substituted by that of venenosa, I do not know for what reason, as none is assigned.