165 



being more common nortliward than southward. It lives wh(>re 

 vegetation is abundant and is no doubt to a considerable extent 

 nocturnal. It lays eggs, as is shown by the fact that we have 

 received snake eggs and upon opening them found well developed 

 little embryos representing this species of serpent. 



The eggs, according to our dissections, commence to develop in 

 June and reach the full length (1^ in.), by the middle of August, 

 about which time they are laid. The egg shell is translucent, thin, 

 and parchment-like, and the little embryo within the egg is about 

 an inch long at the time it is laid. The laying may occur from the 

 12th of August to the 15th of September. The eggs probably hatch 

 within three weeks after the time of laying. They are de})osited 

 in loose earth, decaying wood, or sawdust, and the young soon find 

 protection in concealment in the grass or green foliage. 



The Grass Snake has been reported as feeding on insects (DeKay 

 and Morse) and "crickets and grasshoppers" (Holbrook). Dr. Atkin 

 son has published that he found three grasshoppers in one speci 

 men of this serpent. 



Fig. 13. — Diagram sliowing' the percentages of 

 Food Items of Grass Snake {LiopcUis vernalw) : 

 45 per cent. Insects; 16 per cent. Spiders; 17 per 

 cent. Grasshoppers; 11 per cent. Lepidopterous 

 Larvae; 11 per cent. Snails. 



From our actual studies of the food contents of 22 specimens we 

 have ascertained the following: 



No. Specimens: Food Materials: 



1 Helix hirsuta (Snail). 



1 Slug. 



1 Snails. Undet. 



