THE WATER MOCCASIN AT HOME.

Manawatu Herald, 30 June 1896, Page 4

THE WATER MOCCASIN AT HOME.

A Xcar Rclr»Mvo of the Copperhead ail Uglier Thau tho Kattlcsnako. TI;o w;:tci' moccasin bulongs to the g< ikis anr-istvoden, of which our norther coppoi'i.-.iM'.l is ,1 member. Its avorag length is n.t)out- 234 feet, and it seldom es c<v;!s :> IVet. Tlio prevailing htio ia a dnl p:rc!ii.-,!i or olivo brown, often almos biiiclc, with darker bare, and with blotche or 'irc\.ks of yellow. Like the niitlesnoke, its head is broad n!i.;;-i!ar iunl (kxttened, with well define* in- '.<. 'i'ho "poison pit" is also present 01 t;it!i side, between tho eyo and nostril The upper jaw contains two fangs, nsiiallj

(sometimes threo or foxir) connected with poison sacs. The oyes gleam with a hateful expression, nnd tho wholo appearance of the reptilo ia even more revolting than that of the diamond rattlesnake its common and scientific names inicnto, the moccasin inhabits tho water uii is an oxpert fisher. It is not a truo water snako, however, for it passes mnoh of its existence out of tho water. Stagnant ponds and swamps aro common in Florida. In nearly every swamp there is a depression, or "sink hole," usually r.car tho middle. The water seldom entirely disappears from these holes, even in seasons of great drought. At such periods tho sink holes contain a dark semiliquid which Is fairly alive with small fish, frogs and crabs, and with them may always bo found a number of moccasins. TheF.o snakes gorge themselves on this food supply as long as it lasts. When a largo moccasin is attacked, it gives out a sickoniug, musky odor, similar to that of the diamond rattlesnake, but jnoro powerful. Owing to the fact that this snake is seldom encountered out of the water, persons are rarely bitton by it. Professor Charles Coo, who gives, in Popular Science News, this sketch of tho water moccasin, says also that ho has frequent ly examined tho fangs and poison sacs ot this species and has found them equal in sizo to those of the largest diamond rattler. Their venom is doubtless of equal viruience, as bites suffered by animals generally prove fatal.