10 McAtee Mammah, Reptiles and Batrachians of Indiana. 



3. Diadophis punctatus (Linn.). 



RING-NECKED SNAKE. 

 Fairly common. 



4. Cyclophis aestivus (Linn.). 



ROUGH GREEN-SNAKE. 



Not an uncommon species ; several are seen each year. 



5. Storeria dekayi (Holb.). 

 Not rare. 



6. Coluber obsoletus (Say). 



PILOT SNAKE. 



Very common. A great climber ; of gentle disposition in confinement. 



7. *Natrix kirtlandi (Kenn.). 

 One record by Dr. David Starr Jordan. 



8. Natrix fasciata sipedon (Linn.). 



WATER-SNAKE. 



Common. 



9. Heterodon platyrhinus Latr. 



HOG-NOSED SNAKE. 



The most abundant species. Remarkable for the paroxysms it under 

 goes when frightened. There is apparently a regular course which must 

 be gone through with when once begun. Usually the head and neck flatten, 

 the body swells and the hissings commence. This part of the series only 

 is often given and seems to be an intimidatory movement. If this does 

 not produce the desired effect, the violent contortions begin immediately. 

 During these the remains of the last meal, if still available for the purpose, 

 are ejected. The writhing continues for a short time and diminishes in 

 intensity until 'lie snake lies perfectly still on its back. I have never ob 

 served one of these spasms that reached the contortion stage that was not 

 carried through to the end. They remain in the death feigning posture 

 from a few seconds to many minutes, and the instinct to simulate death is 

 so strongly developed that if the " dead " snake be turned over to the nor 

 mal position, it is not content to remain inert but at once flops back to 

 what it evidently considers the " deadest" attitude at its command. My 

 experience has been that the young (of the year) come out of this state 

 very quickly, but I have observed an adult when undisturbed to remain 

 in it not less than ten minutes, and Professor W. S. Blatchley found that 

 with a little attention at intervals to remind them of his presence, they 

 would " play possum " for an hour at a * ime. 



10. Osceola doliata triangula (Boie). 



MILK SNAKE. 



Very common. One was found with the tail of a ring-necked snake 

 (Diadophis punctatus} protruding from its mouth. It was compelled to 

 disgorge, when its victim was found to be nearly as long as itself. With a 

 little persuasion and assistance it was induced to repeat its feat of degluti 

 tion, and was killed. The spec'mens are now preserved in the University 

 collection as nearly as possible in the position in which they were origi 

 nally found. 



