SERPEXTS. 371 



the vicinity of nearly every slow-ninnint; stream, brook, or pond, -n-here tliej' often 

 startle the angler, either by llicir exert inns to escape in the rushes or semi-aquatic 

 bushes, or by boldly phiuging inti) the water, in which they also often capture their 

 food, which consists of frogs, toads, or fish, and, being excellent swimmers, thev are 

 not infrequently seen in the middle of ponds, and are esi)ecially almndant about lily-jjads. 

 They are said to fre<juently take the hook, when it is baited with a worm or small min- 

 now, but when captured will fight like a tiger. In many jiortions of the south this snake 

 is called the water-nuieeasiu, and is considered very poisonous. While dying, the lower 

 side of the body often takes on an iridescent character, the rapid changes of the 

 prismatic colors being particularly beautifid. Specimens over three feet in length are 

 rare. The Australian frcsh-water-snake, T. ^^iciuratieg, varies much in color, being 

 either gray or deep brown, with a salmon-colored abdomen, and spotted along the 

 sides with a double series of red dots. It resembles, in general marking, the Tropi- 

 dechis, a venomous form ; the two can easily be distinguished, however, as 7\pictiiratus 

 has fifteen dorsal and lateral rows of scales, while TrojikkcJds has more than twenty. 

 The species under consideration has been observed to congregate in great numbers, 

 during the early evening, around lagoons and water-holes, though during the day few 

 or none are to be seen. Of the score or more of Indian Tropidonoti^ T. mucroph- 

 thulmus is the most interesting form, for, though it is a perfectly harmless animal, it 

 superficially resembles the cobra so exactly as to often deceive those well acquainted 

 with both animals. The resemblance is further carried out in that the neck is capalde 

 of exj)andiug horizontally, and is provided with a larger number of scales than is the 

 rest of the body. This animal, inhabiting the Himmaleh mountains, offers one of the 

 most interesting instances of jn'otective resemblance in the animal kingdom. 



Also abounding in species, of which, in North America alone, there are about a 

 score, is the genus JEhitcenia, to which our most fa.niiliar serpents belong. J?, saurita and 

 E. sirtalis, are seen by the dozens, during a country walk, of a bright summer's day, 

 anywhere in the more eastern portions of the United States. In general marking the 

 two so nearly resemble each other that they are ordinarily considered to be similar, 

 being ])0]ndarly called strijied or garter-snakes. T. saurita, how'ever, is longer and 

 much more slender than T. sirtalis, and is found in more moist localities. The collector 

 ^\ ill cajiture many more of these forms than of any other, except, possibly, the green- 

 snake. The eggs of Tropidonotus are sometimes found about out-buildings, and in 

 hatching give birth to little fellows having enormous eyes and a spotted body, the 

 longitudinal bands of the adults only being gained after several sloughings of the 

 skin. These cast-off skins are very abundantly found among piles of rubbish, or 

 under the loose bark of decaying trees. They are eagerly sought after by the great 

 crested Hy-catcher, Mi/iarcfius cristatus, who uses them to line her nest. Though 

 perfectly harmless, the garter-snakes are most offensive to handle. They exude a most 

 fcetid odor, which so possesses the power of penetration and adhesion as to render it 

 (piite imjiossible to rid one's self of it. 



The genus Storeria is rejiresented in the eastern United States by two species, both 

 of small size, though interesting and graceful in tluir habits and motions. Storeria 

 occipitomavuhtta is found throughout the jNIississippi valley, and eastwanl, and is often 

 captured in Xcw Englauil, where it has lieen called the spottcd-necked-snake, on 

 account of the three large, white, irregular blutches just back of the occipital plates. 

 S. dckayi is equally abundant, and was first described, as was the jircvious species, 

 from Massachusetts specimens. It frequents meadows and grass-ground, where it 



