50 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF ALABAMA 



In the winter and early spring months we find them us- 

 ually in a semidormant state under logs and rocks, under 

 bark of dead or dying trees, in the cavity of old rotten 

 tree stumps, under moss, leaves and compost, and often 

 deep in the ground; under such circumstances they fall 

 an easy prey to the hunter. In the summer and fall we 

 may find them in all of these places, but active and full 

 of life. Most often at this time of the year we find 

 them hunting their prey in the open field or forest un- 

 dergrowth, in trees, or sunning themselves on a partly 

 submerged log, on branches overhanging our rivers, 

 creeks and lakes, or swimming in their waters. 



Then, they are always on the alert, and often difficult 

 to catch. All Amphibians, all of our Alabama lizards, 

 and a large majority of our snakes can be taken and 

 handled without the least danger of being bitten. Oc- 

 casionally a black snake may draw blood as he. gives you 

 a nab in the finger, but it gives you no more inconveni- 

 ence than the scratch of a thorn. 



Salamanders and frogs we may have to fish for, us- 

 ing an earth-worm or a bit of red flannel as bait, quick 

 running lizards may be shot with a parlor rifle using 

 fine shot cartridges. Often one can use to advantage a 

 fishing pole and line, with a slip-knot at the end to catch 

 specimens which cannot be reached otherwise, stealthily 

 slip the noose over his head, and a quick jerk will land 

 him, "this may be easier done if you can get the animal 

 to concentrate its attention upon another person while 

 you are slipping the line over its head. 



A net is handy to catch water-snakes and Amphibians, 

 and at times you may have to dig a specimen out of his 

 hole. Altogether, the collecting of this class of animals 

 calls for more strategy, and gives you more genuine 

 sport and diversion, than most sportsmen get out of 

 hunting and fishing, and it has the advantage that you 

 preserve the specimen and can prove your snake story. 



Before tackling any snake barehanded we should learn 

 to know at sight our few poisonous ones. In Alabama we 

 have only seven species to get acquainted with, six of 

 these belong to the so-called pit-vipers and have identical 



