172 MICHIGAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 



NOTES ON MICHIGAN SNAKES. 



HUBERT LYMAN CLARK. 



Since the last ineetirii;- of the Academy, observations have been con- 

 tinued on the reptiles of Eaton county, and the following; notes seem 

 worthy of record. Many of those on water-snakes are snp])lementary to 

 the acconnt of the water-snakes of southern Michigan, pnblislied in the 

 American Naturalist for January, 1903 : 



Natural History. — A small male red-bellied water-snake (Xatrix 

 enjtlirogaster) has been kept in captivity since May 5, 1902. During 

 the summer he shed his skin not less than four times though he has appar- 

 ently not undergone any change in size and color. Since September he 

 has eaten nothing, but the young man who looked after him during the 

 summer said that he ate about one frog a week. March 17th three live 

 frogs were placed in his cage, but he has showed no disposition yet ( March 

 24 I to eat any of them. During the winter he spent much of his time at 

 the bottom of his pan of water, apparently torpid, and certainly not com- 

 ing to the surface to breathe, for hours at a time. A large female garter 

 snake has been confined with him since September and she also sought 

 the water during the cold weather, (the laboratory is not heated at 

 night), but always coiled in such a position that her nose was out of 

 water. So far as I could judge, air was essential to her, but not to the 

 water-snake. Yet observations made on water-snakes in the early spring^ 

 lead me to believe that they do not normally hibernate under water. On 

 the contrary, garter-snakes, ribbon-snakes, water-snakes of both species, 

 and blue racers were all found on the tirst warm days of the present 

 spring (1903) sunning themselves under such conditions that I am led 

 to believe they all winter in similar situations, in holes and cavities 

 under brush heaps, fence rows, stunqjs, etc. On those days when they 

 first come out of their winter quarters, they are all very sluggish, even 

 the blue-racer being comparatively easily captured with the hand. But 

 a few days of warm weather brings back their activity. All of our snakes 

 will bite if carelessly handled, but the pilot snake (Coluher ohsohtus) 

 is remarkable for its gentle disposition. It makes a very interesting pet, 

 especially on account of its extraordinary ability as a climber. During 

 the year the following snakes have bitten me or one of my students : 

 Garter-snake, pilot-snake, blue racer, water-snake and red-bellied water- 

 snake. In every case the result was the same; no a]>preciable pain was 

 felt, the blood flowed freely, the wound gave no discomfort and it healed 

 v/ith remarkable rapidity. A bite from one of our non-venomous snakes is 

 apparently less serious than a scratch from a pin. 



Edihiliiy. — The use of snakes for food has never met with wide favor 

 and probably the fish-eating snakes would not be agreeable. But the 

 blue-racer (Zamcnis constrictor) is edible, though the meat has no special 

 flavor. We have tried it fried, and also "devilled" and made uj* in sand- 

 wiches. In the former case, those who had the courage to try it pro- 

 nounced it good and asked for more, while in the latter case, the sand- 



