12 SERPENTS OF THE NORTHEASTERN STATES 



quent the immediate course of brooks, small rivers or the margins of 

 ponds and lakes. Some wander widely over varying ranges and may 

 be seen almost anywhere on low or high ground. One species shows a 

 marked preference for the arid, sandy stretches immediately back 

 of ocean beaches, another for the pine areas of New Jersey and to the 

 southward. The prevailing type of rattlesnake is far more commonly 

 associated with the vicinity or the actual slopes of the mountainous 

 areas, and this condition, though to a lesser degree, is indicated for 

 the more generally distributed copperhead snake. 



A Key to the Species 



A key to the identification of the northeastern serpents may be 

 based upon four simple points. These are: (1) the kind of scales — 

 whether smooth or keeled; (2) the pattern and coloration; (3) size; 

 (4) shape of the pupil of the eye. This latter characteristic alone 

 immediately separates the poisonous species on gross examination. 

 The scales of serpents are either quite smooth, or have a ridge or keel 

 running lengthwise along the center. With some, the keel is faint; 

 with others, like the harmless water snake, garter snake and flat-headed 

 "adder," the keel is very distinct. The local poisonous serpents have 

 strongly keeled scales. 



Following is a key to the species, arranged without regard to tech- 

 nical classification, except that the venomous species are in sequence 

 and conclude the list. 



Part I : IS! on-venomous 



1. Pupil of Eye Round 

 A— Scales Smooth 

 Size — -Small 



Brown above; pinkish beneath WORM Snake 



Brown above with minute black dots ; 



yellowish-white beneath Smooth Brown Snake 



Pale green above; white beneath Green Snake 



Dark gray above ; a yellow ring around 



neck; yellow beneath Ring-necked Snake 



Size — Moderate 



Gray, with chestnut or olive blotches 

 above; square patches of black and 

 white beneath Milk Snake 



