The Green Snakes 



small bushes by the roadside and watch for the movements of the 

 reptiles, if a specimen happened to be lying motionless among 

 the leaves it was perfectly protected, the keeled scales imparting 

 a soft, green surface that exactly matched the surrounding vege- 

 tation. 



The Genus Liopeltis: A number of species of this genus occur 

 in eastern Asia. They are of small size. The majority are of a 

 uniform green or yellow above. Following is a description of 

 the only North American species: 



THE GREEN SNAKE, "GRASS SNAKE" 

 Liopeltis vernalis, (De Kay) 



This species is stouter of body than the preceding green snake, 

 while the tail is proportionately much shorter with the majority 

 of specimens. The scales are smooth, with a satiny lustre. 



Colouration. — Uniform, pale (leaf) green above ;greenish-white 

 beneath. The lips show the pale tint of the undersurface. 

 Alcoholic specimens fade to a greenish-gray or blue. 



A large specimen from Long Island, N. Y., is unusual in 

 being dark olive and dull yellow beneath. 



Freshly hatched specimens are dull olive above. 



Dimensions. — This is a smaller species than the keeled- 

 scaled green snake and rarely attains a length of over twenty 

 inches. The measurements of an average-sized specimen are 

 given : 



Total Length 1 5 J inches. 



Length of Tail 5 J " 



Greatest Diameter J ' 



Width of Head \ " 



Distribution. — Southeastern Canada, southward to the Gulf 

 of Mexico. The species extends westward to New Mexico. It 

 does not appear to be abundant in the Southern or Western 

 States, but is a common reptile in Maine, Massachusetts, Connecti- 

 cut and New York. 



Habits. — Extended observations prove this species to be 

 quite insectivorous in habits, a characteristic common among the 

 lizards, but rare with the snakes, and especially among species 

 that do not lead a burrowing life. Of the many specimens of 

 the Green Snake that have come under the writer's attention 



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