The Hog-noBed Snakes 



scription, the writer has before him a specimen with yellow body 

 colours which gradually assume a reddish hue toward the head, 

 and for a distance of about two inches the neck is brick-red and 

 in bold contrast to the other colours. Another specimen shows 

 a ground-colour of the same tinge (red) for more than half the 

 length of the body, while the spots of the back fuse into those of 

 the sides, giving the snake the appearance of being strongly 

 banded with red and black. A third specimen is olive green, 

 with the spots very indistinct upon the back, where slightly 

 paler patches of colour show what should be the spaces between 

 them. Specimens found in very dry and open sandy places are 

 usually light in colour, while those frequenting wooded districts 

 show darker shades. 



With few exceptions, the head is of a uniform brown or yel- 

 lowish-brown, with a dark band crossing the top, slightly in front 

 of the eyes. Behind the eyes is a broken band, from which 

 radiate two others extending into the neck, where they widen 

 to form two large patches. A short band extends from the eye 

 to the angle of the mouth. 



Freshly hatched specimens resemble the parent in pattern, 

 but show more vivid colours. 



Dimensions. — The measurements given are of an average- 

 sized specimen: 



Total Length 28 inches. 



Length of Tail 4t 



Greatest Diameter i J 



Width of Head i 



Length of Head if 



Height of Rostral (the nose shield) J 



The largest specimen examined by the writer measured 40.^ 

 inches in length. It was taken near Raleigh, North Carolina. 

 Another specimen, 37 inches long, came from Sullivan Co., N. Y. 



Distribution. — The wide distribution may be concisely out- 

 lined thus: Southern Massachusetts to Florida (inclusive) and 

 westward to the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains. An 

 abundant species in dry, sandy places. 



Habits of the Hog-nosed Snake 



Owing to one habit at least, the Hog-nosed Snake is odd 

 among serpents. This is the trait of feigning death when fright- 



379 ■.*♦ 



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