SERPENTS OF THE NORTHEASTERN STATES 35 



Ribbon Snake ) 



Garter Snake y Striped lengthwise 



Striped Water Snake; Queen Snake ) 



Seven species have perfectly smooth scales, two have the scales 

 faintly keeled, and with nine the scales are strongly keeled. 



Eleven of the species are oviparous and seven are viviparous. 



Two species, the banded water snake and the queen snake, are 

 persistently aquatic. The ribbon snake also takes much to the water, 

 or frequents margins of streams and damp meadows. 



The hog-nosed snake prefers very dry, sandy areas. This species 

 is the most dramatic in endeavoring to frighten an intruder. While 

 most snakes will glide to safety when disturbed, this species widely 

 flattens the neck and hisses. It will also feign death. 



The preceding species and the pine snake are the only local species 

 that hiss loudly when disturbed. 



Several of the local non-venomous species will flatten the body and 

 strike, if cornered. Their bites are entirely innocuous beyond the pos- 

 sibility of infection which may result from any small abrasion. 



The two species of blacksnakes, the corn snake, pine snake, king 

 snake and milk snake, vibrate the tail when angry, and produce a buzz- 

 ing sound when the appendage is among dry leaves. 



Twelve of the local species feed only upon cold-blooded prey, 

 three upon both cold and warm-blooded prey, and three entirely upon 

 warm-blooded prey. The common green snake appears to be the only 

 species which is altogether insectivorous. While its near ally, the 

 keeled green snake, feeds largely on insects, it also devours small 

 lizards. 



The garter snake, DeKay's snake and water snake are the most 

 abundant species. 



Part II: The Local Venomous Serpents 



Since there are only three species of poisonous serpents in the 

 northeastern States and these may be separated into only two kinds 

 — rattlesnakes and the copperhead — the pertinent information con- 

 cerning them may be summarized briefly: 



A. No rattle: 



Copperhead 



B. Tail ending in a rattle: Transversallj banded 



Timber Rattlesnake 



Massasauga 



