None of our poisonous Texas snakes ordinarily can strike more than three-quarters of its body length, unless it has a firm backing or is striking downward from an incline. Certainly none has the ability to jump at an enemy, a feat often attributed to the rattlesnake. A snake on the defensive is coiled with the forward part of its body in a loose S position. When striking, this coil is straightened out and the head is thrust forward. It is not necessary for a snake to strike from a coil in order to bite. If picked up near the head, it may simply turn, open its mouth and bite the hand. It is dangerous to believe, as many do, that a water moccasin cannot bite under water, and woe to the person who dares to seize a submerged cottonmouth. RECOGNIZING THE POISONOUS KINDS Suppose, in spite of attention to the precautions and protective measures just outlined, someone is bitten by an unidentified snake. Certainly the victim would not wish to delay treatment if the snake were poisonous, because every minute wasted would make recovery more difficult. On the other hand, he would not care to undergo either the pain associated with snake bite treatment or the anxiety following a bite if a harmless snake were the cause of the accident. Yet time and again people have been bitten by harmless snakes and have been needlessly given first aid and hospital treatment because the offending snake was incorrectly classified as poisonous. Still others have been bitten by harmless snakes and died from nothing more than fright. When recognition of the snake is doubtful, it should, if possible, be killed and taken to a hospital or doctor’s office for correct identification. Always keep in mind, however, that a recently killed poisonous snake may still be potentially dangerous. Even after its head is cut from the body, a reptile is capable of marked reflex activity; merely touching the head may cause it to bite. To be on the safe side, use a stick to lift or carry a dead snake. It is evident that the ability to distinguish between harmless and poisonous snakes goes hand in hand with a knowledge of proper first aid treatment. Ability to recognize a poisonous snake on sight can best be achieved by a study of live poisonous kinds and a comparison of them with harmless species. At many zoos, where both kinds are on display in glass-fronted cages, they may be examined safely. If a zoo is not conveniently near, an examination of photographs showing the different kinds is probably the next best way to become familiar with them.