SERPENTS OF THE NORTHEASTERN STATES 17 



tile then rolls on its back, with the appearance of being dead. How- 

 ever, there is one inconsistent phase in the manoeuver. If turned 

 with a stick upon its crawling surface, it returns with agility to its 

 former position. Apparently it is convinced that the only position for 

 a dead serpent is on its back. 



With proportionately the thickest body of any of the local non- 

 venomous serpents, and a wide, distinct head, this snake is often mis- 

 taken for the copperhead, from which it differs in its irregular pattern, 

 sharp, shovel-shaped snout, round pupils, and double row of plates 

 under the tail. Moreover, the copperhead never assumes any air of 

 bravado. 



The scales of this species are keeled. A large specimen is three 

 feet long, but most adults are two to two and one-half feet long. 

 Coloration and markings are extremely variable, but the usual hue is 

 yellowish or brown, with dark brown or black irregular cross-bands. 

 Some specimens have bright shades of yellow or red, the latter color 

 being particularly evident anteriorly. Occasional specimens are en- 

 tirely black. 



This snake is most abundant in sandy areas and is found in con- 

 siderable numbers in some portions of Long Island, immediately back 

 of the sea beach. It is also common in sandy areas in New Jersey. 

 It is by no means confined to sandy regions, however, as it is also 

 found in the mountains, although sparingly. The greater number of 

 uniformly black specimens are observed in elevated areas. 



Quite recently its specific name was changed to that by which 

 the copperhead was known — contortrix. Its name was formerly Hete- 

 rodon platyrhinus, but Dr. Thomas Barbour, after a careful examina- 

 tion of the later editions of Linne, finds that as the result of an error 

 in early nomenclature, confusing two species, the hog-nosed snake was 

 renamed contortrix in the 12th edition of the "Systema Natura," thus 

 rendering that specific name untenable for the copperhead, the specific 

 name of which is now noted in the systematic lists as mokasen. 



The hog-nosed snake appears to feed largely upon toads and 

 frogs. It is oviparous. 



General range: Very extensive. From Massachusetts to Florida; 

 westward in the south to Texas and in the north to Minnesota. 



Green Snake 



Liopeltis vernalis (Harlan) 



(Fig. 6) 



An easily identified species of small size, with smooth scales 

 and uniform pale green hue above, whitish beneath. It is a dainty 

 creature, eighteen to twenty-four inches long, and seldom of greater 

 diameter than three-eighths of an inch. Just before shedding the 



