(Communicated by the Author.)

Although I have not devoted a particular study to this department of the science of nature, yet I have been amused and instructed by casually observing many of the subjects of it, when I have been rambling in their native haunts, pursuing objects more particularly interesting to me.

But when perusing, the other day, the account of the copper-head of our country, by Mr. Rafinesque, I was impelled to ask for information on the subject, through your useful publication, in which that account appeared, and to make, at the same time, a few miscellaneous remarks or notes. These are in part included in the present essay, and if they should have a tendency to incite attention to the reptilia of the United States, at present in a state of confusion and incertitude, some portion of benefit will be rendered to the great cause of science.

I think that a moderate degree of labour and observation bestowed upon the investigation of the species already described, would prove the unity in nature of some species which have been considered as distinct by all the authors, would detect many errors in observation, expose some deceptions practised on credulity by the designing, and would enable us to fix, with some degree of accuracy, our knowledge of truth and of the species.

A work devoted particularly to this class, by some one adequate to the task, who could have in his view all the known species, is indeed a desideratum.

Scytale cupreus, Copper-head, &c. of Mr. Rafinesque. I have always considered the Copper-head to be no other than the Cenchris mockeson of authors, and Boa contortrix of Linn. v. Latr. Lacep. Shaw, Daudin, &c. Agkistrodon mokasen of Beauvois; which opinion is not a little corroborated by an actual comparison of one of these animals in Peale's Museum, with the descriptions of the authors above mentioned. It may be objected to me, that the mockeson of those naturalists is a Cenchris, and not a Scytale, therefore generically distinguished from the Copper-head; but on the other hand, we know that the genus Cenchris does not exist in nature, that the individual upon which it was founded, was either a fortuitous variety, or that the illustrious naturalist was deceived by the desiccation of his specimen, giving to the basal caudal plates a bifid aspect. That the former was the case I analogically infer, from having seen, in the collection of the Academy of Natural Sciences, a Coluber heterodon, of which the fifth and sixth pairs of caudal scales were entire, and not as usual bifid. An additional corroboration of the truth of this inference is derived from the circumstance of the Scytale of Peale's Museum, having the ten or eleven apical caudal plates bifid, precisely as in the genus Acanthophis, to which it seems closely affianced, and to which it would be referred if this character was a permanent one. In every other character this specimen coincides with the S. mockeson of authors, and in every necessary respect with the S. cupreus of Mr. R. with the sole exception of the calcarate termination of the tail. This caudal horn seems to approximate Mr. R's. animal to the S. piscivorus or true horn-snake, about which the credulous have so absurdly alarmed themselves, and which was arranged with the Crotali by Lacepede, in consequence of having a horn on the tail an inch long. We find sometimes a small indurated tip to the tail of Coluber melanoleucus,[33] at least upon some full grown specimens, formed by the elongation and appression of the terminal scales; a larger one on that of the European viper, and of the Acanthophis cerastes, and Brownii. Mr. Peale's specimen certainly has not the horn, but it has at the termination of the tail a scale somewhat longer and more indurated than the others, the individual had not attained his full growth. If then this species (and some others) is subject to vary in the form of its caudal plates, from which the generic characters are in part estimated, may it not also vary in the armature of the tail, which at most can only be considered as specific. The Copper-belly is a very distinct species. If the S. cupreus is, notwithstanding the above observations, considered a distinct species, it would gratify those who cultivate natural history, to have some good discriminative characters of it.

Much has been said and written about antidotes to the venomous bites of snakes, and Mr. Rafinesque enumerates over again several plants which have been said to be, and which he appears to believe to be specifics. If the case was my own, I would be very unwilling to rely upon either of the 20 or 30 medicinal plants, dubiously mentioned by the late Professor Barton, as reputed antidotes for this poison. It would be more prudent to resort unhesitatingly to a more certain remedy, in the ligature, and immediate excision of the part, where such an operation was practicable, or to cauterization, if the part could not be removed by the knife.

In conversation with Professor Cooper upon this subject, he informed me that in his domestic medical practice he applied common chalk to the wounds occasioned by the stings of hymenopterous insects. That in consequence of this mode of treatment, the pain was immediately allayed, and the consequent inflammation and intumescence were prevented. The experiment which led to this result was induced by the supposition that the venomous liquid might be an acid, which opinion was, in some degree, justified by the event.[34] Upon the same neutralizing principle it must be supposed that any alkali would be beneficial. The learned Professor supposed, that the venom of the poisonous reptilia may, in like manner, be an acid secretion, and recommends this to be ascertained by experiments upon the liquid itself.

If this inference proves correct, the same alkaline remedy may be employed to neutralize, or so modified as to stimulate, in case, as is supposed by some, the poison produces upon the system a typhoid action.

An instance however is related in the Trans. Royal Soc. of Lond. of the unsuccessful administration of the vol. alkali in case of the bite of a Rattle-snake; and an intelligent physician of Georgia informed me, that he had applied the same stimulant in vain for the cure of the bites of poisonous snakes, but that being once stung by a Scorpion, he was instantaneously relieved by the topical use of this liquid. He further related to me a cure performed under his observation, by means of the singular antidote, which has often been resorted to in case of snake bites, that of the application of a living domestic fowl or other bird directly to the wound; three fowls were applied in this instance, of which two died in a few minutes, it was supposed, by the poison extracted from the wound. This account, from an observant medical professor, (who may nevertheless have been deceived) acquires some additional title to consideration by a similar event which lately occurred at Schooley's Mountain, New-Jersey. We are informed from a respectable source, that a boy was there bitten by a Copper-head, (Scytale mockeson.)[35] The part was immediately painful, became swollen and inflamed, and the sufferer had every appearance of having received a dangerous wound. A portion of the breast of a fowl was denudated of feathers, and applied to the wound; in a few minutes the fowl died, without having experienced any apparent violence or injurious pressure, from the hand of the applicant, the breast exhibiting a livid appearance. Another living fowl was then laid open by the knife, and the interior of the body placed upon the wound. The wound was subsequently scarified, and variously administered to. The boy however recovered, and his cure was generally attributed, at least in part, to the application of the birds. I am as far as any one from relying implicitly upon this mode of treatment, and would only resort to it when the part bitten could not be extirpated, and when a cautery was not at hand. Yet it must be confessed, that from the numerous attestations to its efficacy we should be almost led to suppose a very strong affinity to exist between the venom and the animal thus applied.

That so numerous a catalogue of plants have gained credit with the uninformed as specifics, will not be surprising, when we know that the reservoir of the venom is very readily exhausted and slowly replenished. When this reservoir is vacated, the reptile is of course innoxious, and the most inert plant would then stand a good chance of gaining reputation with the credulous as a specific.

For a similar reason we have so many cures for the bite of a rabid animal; and it may be for a similar reason that the body of an animal has acquired repute as an antidote, against the venom of a serpent.

Coluber trivittata of Mr. R. p. 80, of this work. Judging from the descriptive name and the locality, is the C. sirtalis of authors, or possibly the C. saurita or C. ordinatus. These serpents have each the three vittÆ, though in the two former this trait is much more striking. I know of no other serpent in our vicinity to which the name can be characteristically applied. The ordinatus has been called bipunctatus and ibibe by the French school. What is the difference between sirtalis and saurita? they must be very closely allied, if not synonymous.

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.

Salamandra punctata, Gmel. This appellation was originally given and restricted to the stelio of Catesby. tab. 10. (represented in the bill of Ardea Herodias) and was adopted by many subsequent authors, but was finally rejected by Daudin, who considered the species the same as Barton's subviolacea. He concurred with Mr. Latreille in appropriating the name thus rejected to var. of Lacerta, aquatica of Gmel. Notwithstanding this high authority I cannot but coincide with Professor Barton in this instance, in believing it altogether distinct. The single character of the subocellate spots, though not remarked by this author, is a sufficiently discriminative one; these ocellÆ are always present, and in no one of the varieties I have seen has the approximation to the subviolacea been so considerable as to render a specific discrepance equivocal. Catesby's variety with the ocellÆ on the tail seems to be the least common; in general these spots, or epupillate ocellÆ, are exclusively confined to a line on each side of the back, about six in each, extending from the base of the head to the origin of the tail, though there are sometimes scattered smaller ones on each side of the body, and upon the vertex of the head, they are of a beautiful reddish colour, enclosed by a definite black areola; the upper part of the body is brownish, with numerous, distant black points, and a slight vertebral, obtuse carina, the inferior surface of the body of a fine yellow or orange, with distant black points, the tail[37] is compressed, ancipital, attenuated to an obtuse tip, longer than the body, and punctured with black in like manner. The younger specimens vary considerably, in being, on many parts of the body, destitute of black punctures, and in having the dorsal and ventral colour, of the same pale orange. It is decidedly aquatic. Several specimens are preserved in the collection of the Academy of Natural Sciences, and from these it is evident that the reddish colour of the subocellate spots is destroyed by the action of the antiseptic liquid; to this circumstance it is probably owing that these spots have been hitherto described as white.

After stating these differential traits, it may be proper to observe, that the S. maculata of Shaw is synonymous with the above. But I think it most proper to restore Gmelin's name punctata, which will afford an opportunity to do justice to the memory of Laurenti, by reviving the original name by which he distinguished the Var. . of Lacerta, aquatica, Gmel., that of parisinus.

Bufo cornuta. This animal, which has been stigmatized as the most prodigiously deformed creature known to exist!! is generally supposed to inhabit North America as well as Surinam. I do not think it has ever been found in North America. Shaw, in Nodder's Nat. Misc. says it is principally found in Virginia, but in his General Zoology, I think he says that Seba was in error when he represented its native country to be North America. Two other species of Bufo have been correctly stated to inhabit this country, viz. B. musicus, and Crapaud rougeÂtre, Daud. (B. rubidus) first noticed as distinct by Mr. William Bartram. I discovered a third species on the banks of St. John's river, East Florida, which, as I am not at present prepared to describe, I shall not surreptitiously name.

It is, I conceive, an incumbent duty on the describer of a natural object, to deposit his specimen, or a duplicate, when practicable, in some cabinet or museum, to which he should refer, in order that subsequent writers may be satisfied with the accuracy of his observations, by examining for themselves. By such reference, and by the re-examination of the same objects by others, the plethoric redundance of synonyma, that prolific source of accumulating error, will be banished or elucidated, and naturalists will most readily arrive at the knowledge of truth, which is, or ought to be, the grand leading object of their labours.

PHYSICS AND CHEMISTRY.