The Ring-necked Snakes 



Total Length 19* inches. 



Length of Tail 3f 



Greatest Diameter -r\ 



Width of Head ,V "^ 



Length of Head J 



The latter specimen was rather light gray above, with a dull 

 yellow collar; the abdomen was pale yellow, with no trace of 

 black spots. 



Distrihidion. — Generally distributed in North America, east 

 of the Mississippi River, from southern Canada (inclusive) to 

 Florida (inclusive). 



Habits. — The Ring-necked Snake is a secretive species, hiding 

 under the loose, rotting bark of fallen trees, among loose rocks 

 or under flat stones. It is seldom seen abroad and if it ventures 

 from its lairs, usually prowls at night. In the North, the writer 

 has collected large numbers of these pretty snakes by turning 

 over flat stones. He remembers a particular stone, about the 

 size of an ordinary platter, lying near the edge of heavy timber, 

 in Sullivan County, New York, that appeared to be a favourite 

 hiding place for snakes of this species. In his daily trips to 

 the woods, this stone was always turned over, and generally 

 to disclose a Ring-necked Snake, snugly coiled beneath it. 

 Many specimens were taken at this spot. They had appar- 

 ently prowled about the clearing at night and on their way 

 back to the thicket, and its hiding places, had discovered the 

 shelving stone. 



In the South, large numbers of these reptiles were collected 

 by stripping the bark from fallen trees. To find fifty or more 

 specimens during a half-day's hunt for various reptiles that select 

 such hiding places, was not unusual. The Ring-necked Snakes 

 were most frequently found under the bark of trees infested by 

 ants; often the working streams of these insects would pass 

 but a fraction of an inch from the spot where the reptile lay 

 coiled. In one instance, while pursuing some entomological 

 investigations during the early spring, the writer exhumed one 

 of these snakes while digging through a large and thickly populated 

 ant-hill. 



This species is quite omnivorous. It feeds largely upon 

 earthworms and the smaller species of salamanders, as well as 

 lizards and snakes. The writer has observed numerous speci- 



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