THE PINE LIZARD AND ITS ALLIES 



361 



Of the nonpoisonous snakes of this country the little 

 green snake (Liopel'tis verna'lis) is one of the most interest- 

 ing and beautiful. When kept in confinement it is a harm- 

 less and interesting pet. As much cannot be said for our 

 water snakes (Na'trix), which are of irritable disposition and 

 disposed to strike when handled. Blacksnakes (Coluber) 



Fig. 187. A king snake 

 Photograph by courtesy of the American Museum of Natural History 1 



have been kept in captivity and handled freely after they 

 have become accustomed to their new surroundings. Many 

 snakes are not only harmless but are even actually beneficial. 

 The fox snakes (Ela'phe) and bull snakes (Pituo'phis) feed 

 largely on rats, mice, and other rodents. They are worth 

 protecting around barns and corn cribs. Many of the 

 smaller snakes feed chiefly on insects and worms, while 

 those which live near water commonly add fishes to their 

 diet. Some of the king snakes (Lampropel'tis, Fig. 187) are 

 beneficial because they feed on poisonous snakes. 



1 From R. L. Ditmar's Reptiles of the World, with the permission of The 

 Macmillan Company. 



