igo COLUBRID.E 



now in process of extinction over part of its 

 range. 



In Asia the iEsculapian Snake is only found in 

 Transcaucasia. It occurs in the mountains as well 

 as in the plain, being recorded from 5,200 feet 

 altitude in the Tyrol, 3,200 feet in the Apennines. 



Habits. — The y£sculapian Snake lives in woods ; 

 among shrubby vegetation ; in meadows, where it is 

 often found under haystacks ; occasionally about 

 old walls. It climbs well, and often ascends trees. 

 Although a good swimmer, it seldom enters the 

 water of its own accord. It feeds chiefly on small 

 mammals, occasionally on birds and their eggs, and 

 lizards. Specimens which I kept in confinement fed 

 on mice only, refusing sparrows and lizards. Very 

 savage when fresh caught, most individuals soon 

 become tame, and like being handled by people to 

 whom they are accustomed, although still resenting 

 the intrusion of strangers. However, this snake 

 never becomes so thoroughly domesticated as the 

 Smooth Snake, and cannot be trained to take food 

 from the hand, according to R. Rollinat, who has 

 devoted many years to experiments on the taming 

 of reptiles. This observer had no difficulty in feed- 

 ing his -^Esculapian Snakes on mice and voles placed 

 dead in their cage. 



This snake is particularly sensitive to cold, and 

 does not emerge until late in the spring from the 

 vole galleries and hollow trees which constitute its 



