The Water Snakes 



Distribution. — From the Potomac River, southward through- 

 out Florida and westward to the Mississippi Valley (southern 

 portion). The species is particularly abundant in South Caro- 

 lina, Georgia and Florida. 



Habits. — Both in appearance and disposition, this is one 

 of the most ugly of the American snakes. When cornered, it 

 will lie partially coiled, making such rapid darts at every mov- 

 ing object that its actions closely resemble those of a venomous 

 snake. Captive specimens are vicious and sullen. This is in 

 marked contrast to the majority of the water snakes, which ex- 

 hibit a gentle demeanour after a few weeks in captivity. 



In several ways this creature is characteristic. When in 

 the water it has the habit of twisting the tail about the base 

 of an aquatic plant, while the body rears to the surface, in an 

 upright position, the head alone floating flat upon the water. 



As a captive, it is rather delicate, the majority of specimens 

 feeding sparingly, others not at all. While inducing specimens 

 of this reptile to eat it is generally necessary to provide a fair 

 sized tank, in which they pass most of their time. Living fish 

 must be introduced and after these they swim rapidly, beneath the 

 surface. The chase after the fish is with open mouth, and the 

 snakes display wonderful agility in capturing the darting prey. 



Like the other water snakes, this species produces a large 

 number of living young. These are quite large in proportion 

 to the size of the parent. 



One peculiarity of all the water snakes has been frequently 

 noted by the writer. They are very local in habits and many 

 individuals in a wild state seem to remain for years within a 

 very small area. The writer remembers an instance of a large 

 female specimen of the common water snake, that had taken 

 up her abode in the crevices of a high mill-dam, near a small 

 New England town. A certain rock, which jutted out a foot or 

 more from the dam; was her favourite basking place. Here she 

 would be seen every fine morning, flattened and enjoying the 

 rays of the sun. Frightened from the shelving stone, she would 

 dive into the water, to finally make her way back through crev- 

 ices in the wall and emerge on her favourite napping place. 

 For several successive years in passing through the district, the 



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