THE REPTILIA 



325 



are the grass or garter snakes (Fig. 202) wliich occur all over this 

 country. The body is olive color with three long yellow stripes; 

 this renders it rather inconspicuous and enables it to creep upon the 

 frogs, toads, fishes, and earthworms which serve it as food, with- 

 out being seen (aggressive coloration, see p. 30). The eggs 

 of the garter snake hatch within the body and the young emerge 

 in August. 



Contrary to general belief , most of the water snakes are as harm- 

 less as the garter snakes. Like the frogs, they live in swampy 

 places, and escape into the water when approached closely. 

 The common water snake is frequently called " water mocca- 

 sin," but these two species are quite different. 



FIG. 203. Black snake or " blue " racer. (Photo, by Hegner.) 



Among the other harmless snakes that one is apt to encounter 

 are the black snake or " blue " racer (Fig. 203), which lives in dry, 

 open situations and feeds on small animals such as mice, frogs, 

 and young birds; the milk snake, which is wrongly accused of 

 stealing milk from cows; the hog-nosed snake, commonly known 

 as the " puff adder," " spreading viper," or " blow snake," be- 



