LEPTOPHIS .ESTIVUS. 19 



any disposition to mischief. In its wild state it lives among the branches of trees 

 and shrubs, shooting with great velocity from bough to bough, in pursuit of the 

 insects which serve as its nourishment. Its green colour, similar to the leaves 

 among which it lives, aflbrd it protection against those birds which prey upon it. 



Geographical Distribution. This animal abounds in Carolina, whence it 

 extends through the southern and south-western states to Texas; how much further 

 south or west it may be found, cannot at this time be said. The northern limit 

 of the Coluber testivus is also uncertain; Professor Geddings has seen it near 

 Baltimore, and Dr. Pickering has "been credibly informed of its existence not far 

 from Philadelphia." Beyond this latitude it probably does not reach, its place 

 farther north being supplied by the Coluber vernalis of Dekay, an animal to which 

 it bears much resemblance. 



General Remarks. There is no doubt that this animal was first made known 

 to naturahsts by Catesby, who called it the Green Snake, and described its habits 

 very accurately. Linnaeus, however, gave the first scientific description of it, from 

 a specimen sent him by Dr. Garden, and called it Coluber oestivus, by which name 

 it has since been generally known. 



