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first man furnishing the a specimen ^the $5. ^offered
according to g agreement, would of
course have it understood that the opportunity
of getting that [down arrow over up arrow] by furnishing this species is
lost – tho’ I would be we would be very
glad to recieve at the university ^{a donation of} any number
of alcoholic specimens of this reptile as they
would be valuable for exchange – But I
reiterate ^repeat that the only venomous reptiles
known in the Union ^{United States} are the various rattlesnakes
with the copperhead and moccassin – the latter being
called “cotton mouth” here; ^{(though why it should be called “cotton mouth” I cannot tell} And I continue
^{for I can find nothing that resembles cotton about its ugly head and mouth}
my offer of $10 to the first person who
will furnish me ^produce any poisonous species ^{venomous reptile} besides
these found native in Illinois.

I would remark this ^mention in relation to
the cotton mouth a moccassin (“cotton
mouth”) that it is remarkable for its
want of pugnacity ^{showing less inclination to bite than even harmless garter snakes or [illegible]} and on this account
I am inclined to think persons are
very seldom bitten by it. Two specimens
which I observed alive could not by any
amount of teasing be induced to strike at
a stick bite – they merely threw back
the upper jaw and erected the fangs ^{The venom is doubtless as dry active as that of a rattlesnake -}
when they do bite however
I cannot imagine see why this species
has been called “cotton mouth” I certainly
can find nothing about its ugly jaws to
head or mouth to m that resembles
cotton -

I am grateful for your kind notice
of our endeavors at the Northwestern
University to investigate the [illegible]