BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 239 



I29.-8IVAKI1S CATCDIIVO FISH. 



[From Forest and Stream.] 



The writer, who has fished more or less each season for many years, 

 has long- been aware of this habit of snakes taking fish, and after care- 

 ful observation I am firmly convinced that fish furnish a great source 

 of diet to a large portion of the snake family. 



On Saturday- last, the writer with a companion was fishing for inckerel 

 in the outlet of a pond near this city, and while thus engaged we were 

 treated to a very remarkable exhibition of this habit among snakes. 

 As our boat was slowly paddled along the shore among the lily pads, 

 the writer, who wielded the rod, noticed a large striped perch alarmed 

 at our approach, dart into a small cove, and the next instant there fol- 

 lowed a great commotion in the water. As our boat was moved slightly 

 so as to obtain a better view, we saw a large snake holding the strug- 

 gling perch in its mouth above the water, and making its way slowly to 

 the shore. Scarcely had it reached the bank with its victim when there 

 rushed from some hidden retreat among the bushes another snake, at 

 least a foot longer than the other, and instantly a terrible struggle took 

 place between them for the ftsh. Over each other they rolled and 

 writhed upon the ground. One instant both would be tugging at the 

 fish ; then the fish would lie upon the ground, and over its struggling 

 form the snakes would roll in battle in a desperate contest for the 

 mastery. At last by a mighty effort the larger beat off" the smaller, 

 seized the fish in its mouth, and glided into the water, whereupon the 

 smaller became the attacking party, and another terrible fight took 

 place in the water. At last, as though becoming tired of the unequal 

 combat, the smaller one disengaged itself from the fray, and with a 

 slow, tired motion swam slowly ashore among the bushes when the 

 other, holding his ill-gotten prey at least a foot above the water, went 

 quickly ashore. 



It was now time for us to show our hand, and picking up a stone each 

 (for we had previously landed so as better to view the fight) we cast 

 them at his snakeship, and he was soon dead. 



The perch was a fine specimen, 8 inches in length, was in good con- 

 dition, gills bright red, and had the luster in appearance that denoted 

 a healthy condition ; it was quite exhausted by the rough treatment 

 and from being out of the water so long, but after we returned it to 

 the stream, after a few erratic movements, it slowly swam out into deeper 

 water. The snakes were both bluish-black in color on back and sides, 

 belly was a deep bloody-orange color, and the one we killed was 4 feet 

 and 10 inches in length. These snakes were no doubt the common black 

 water-snake {Tropidonatus sipidon), 



Lowell, Mass., June 19, 1884. 



