1914] The Ottawa Naturalist. 103 



We also found some interesting reptile life. Melanism, 

 the occurrence of black individuals in a species normally other- 

 wise colored, and the opf osite of albinism, occurs in many species, 

 but is usually very rare. There appears, however, to be on Point 

 Pelee a race of Garter Snakes specially prone to this color aberra- 

 tion. We have taken black Garter Snakes here on other visits 

 and obtained several this trip. On our return to Ottawa we 

 brought with us quite a number of live snakes. Among them 

 was a normal colored Garter Snake which shortly afterwards 

 brought forth 35 voung. Of these two were perfectly black or 

 melanitic specimens, all the rest being of the usual striped 

 coloration of the mother. 



The Hognosed snake, Heterodon pldtyrhinus, is common 

 on the dunes of east beach, where it usually spends the day 

 under drift wood and logs, coming out at night to forage. The 

 species seems to occur in two forms, a bright yellow and black 

 one, and another form dust}^ gray with the bright yellow and 

 black markings, veiled and but dimly visible. Though the most 

 harmless of reptiles it has a most venemous aspect when aroused 

 and cornered. It is poptilarly called "Blowing Adder" and 

 generallv regarded so deadly that even its breath is poisonous. 

 When unable to escape an enemy, it coils at bay with its head 

 and body raised from the ground about one-third its length, 

 the head flattened and the chops protruded. Gradually the 

 flatness and protrusion extends down the sides until the whole 

 upraised portion assumes a ribbon-like aspect, perhaps an inch 

 and a half across and less than half an inch through at the center, 

 thining out to almost nothing at the edges. In this attitude, 

 as it faces its enemy, it is indeed a threatening sight, the more so 

 as it "blows" with a distinctly obvious sound and makes passes, 

 as if to strike with wide open mouth. But, to use a colloquial 

 phrase, this is but a bluff, and if the enemy stands its ground 

 the strike so deterniindly initiated ends with a futile stroke of 

 a soft mouth that can not scratch the tenderest skin. 



An occasional individtial will carry the game into a still 

 higher form of deception. Finding that its threatenings fail 

 to alarm the aggressor it falls into an apparent fit. Writhing and 

 squirming on the ground, it twists and bites the dust, filling its 

 mouth with sand as it bores its head helplessly into the ground. 

 Gradually the writhings grow fainter and weaker until they cease 

 and the snake lies, belh* upward and to all appearances dead. 

 The simulation is close but careful examination shows it slightly 

 over done; for instance, the snake refuses to lie right side up 

 and every attempt at making it do so calls forth a weak spasm 

 which throAvs it on its back again. Also the limii body will 



