Robert F. Clarke Department of Biology Kansas State Teachers College of Emporia THE KANSAS SCHOOL NATURALIST Vol. 5 No. 3 February 1959 Published by The Kansas State Teachers College of Emporia Prepared and Issued by The Department of Biology, with the cooperation of the Division of Education Editor : John Breukelman Department of Biology Editorial Committee : Ina M. Borman, Robert F. Clarke, Helen M. Douglass, Gilbert A. Leisman, Carl W. Prophet, Dixon Smith Because of the greatly increased cos

The features given here apply only to Kansas snakes and may not be applicable elsewhere. Even in Kansas, there are some non-poisonous snakes which exhibit either the tail or eye characteristics given for poisonous snakes, but none have the pit. It probably need not be pointed out that these features can be seen only when the snake can be examined closely. Certainly, every snake should not be picked up to look for these characteristics! A warning is necessary at this point—reflex action can cause

TAIL TIPS COPPERHEAD ( Agkistrodon contortrix ). Length usually 2-3 feet. Common where it occurs, the copperhead is probably the most abundant poisonous snake in eastern Kansas. It is most frequently found in the vicinity of rocky ledges in oak-hickory-walnut woods, but it ranges widely, so that individuals may be found in almost any habitat during summer months. Although generally nocturnal during most of its active season, its habit of lying in the open during the daytime among dried leaves in

If possible, determine definitely if the snake is poisonous. If it is not, no treatment is necessary other than application of an antiseptic. If the snake is poisonous, typical symptoms will appear rapidly: bruised appearance at bite, noticeable swelling, and intense pain. Later, the victim may become nauseated and may even faint. The important thing to do is to get to a doctor or a hospital as soon as possible . In the meantime, the following measures should be taken to retard the spread of the

Conant, Roger. 1958. A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians. 366 pages. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston. $3.95. Klauber, Lawrence M. 1956. Rattlesnakes: their habits, life histories, and influences on mankind. 2 vols. University of California Press, Berkeley. Minton, Sherman A. Snake-bite in the midwestern region. Quarterly Bulletin, Indiana University Medical Center, Vol. 14, No. 2. Minton, Sherman A. Snakebite. Scientific American , January 1957, Vol. 196, No. 1. Oliver, James A. 1955. The Natu

The cover picture is a copperhead. This snake was photographed alive, but somewhat anesthetized with ether, by Dr. John Breukelman and the author, using a single-lens reflex 35 mm. camera, type A Kodachrome film and two photofloods. The illustrations on page 14 were taken by these same two, using a Polaroid Land camera, photofloods, and graduate student George Ratzlafl as victim. The line drawings and color illustrations were made by the author. The color plates of non-poisonous and poisonous sn

Oct. 1954, Window Nature Study; Dec. 1954, Wildlife in Winter; Feb. 1955, Children’s Books for Nature Study (First in a series): April 1955, Let’s Go Outdoors; Oct. 1955, Fall Wildflowers; Dec. 1955, Snow; Feb. 1956, Spring Wildflowers; April 1956, Turtles in Kansas; Oct. 1956, Hawks in Kansas; Dec. 1956, Children’s Books for Nature Study (Second in the series); Feb. 1957, Life in a Pond; April 1957, Spiders ; Oct. 1957, Along the Roadside ; Dec. 1957, An Outline for Conservation Teaching in Kan

The Biology Department of the Kansas State Teachers College of Emporia is sponsoring its second Audubon Screen Tour Series during the current school year. This series consists of five all-color motion pictures of wildlife, scenics, plant science, and conservation, personally narrated by leading naturalists. Three of the five programs have been presented; the other two will be given in Albert Taylor Hall at 8:00 p.m. on the dates listed below. OLIN SEWALL PETTINGILL, JR., Penguin Summer , Monday,

Plan now to attend the 1959 Workshop in Conservation, which will be a part of the 1959 Summer Session of the Kansas State Teachers College of Emporia, June 2 to 19, and June 22 to July 10, 1959. As in the past several years, the Workshop will cover water, soil, grassland, and wildlife conservation teaching. Such topics as geography and climate of Kansas, water resources, soil erosion problems and control, grass as a resource, bird banding, wildflowers, conservation clubs, and conservation teachi