HIBERNATION ' 115 



It may be possible that tliis occurrence is the basis 

 of the myth just noted. Usually a snake's movements 

 are horizontal undulations. All snakes swim in this 

 manner, and the push of the finned and flattened tail 

 of the sea-snakes is very effective. 



Hiding-places 



Perhaps as a way of escape hiding-places should 

 not be omitted. Nearly all reptiles have something 

 of the sort always near. Lizards run into crevices and 

 climb trees. A few snakes burrow to escape imme- 

 diate danger ; others have holes of some other crea- 

 ture near by to slip into. The habit of the rattle- 

 snakes of the plains in living with the social burrow- 

 ing owl, in the homes of the prairie dogs, is so well 

 known as to scarcely deserve mention. On our more 

 Eastern prairies the gopher-holes are used by our 

 short thick rattlers. Brush-heaps are favorite places 

 for many innocent kinds. The land tortoises may 

 burrow — those known in the South as "goj^hers" 

 very deeply. Mud-turtles fall off of logs into water, 

 and allifirators drop all the bodv beneath the surface 

 except the nose, or else float along safe in their 

 protective resemblance to a half-rotted log. They 

 are said also to have caves dug in the banks, where 

 they hide. 



Hibernation 



Of course hibernation is another form of hiding 

 to escape both the winter and an enemy. Where the 

 cold is severe all reptiles may hibernate. The more 



