LEPTOPHIS ESTIVUS. 19 
any disposition to mischief. In its wild state it lives among the branches of trees 
and shrubs, shooting with great velocity from bough to bough, in pursuit of the 
insects which serve as its nourishment. Its green colour, similar to the leaves 
among which it lives, afford it protection against those birds which prey upon it. 
GrocrapnicaL Distrisution. This animal abounds in Carolina, whence it 
extends through the southern and south-western states to Texas; how much further 
south or west it may be found, cannot at this time be said. The northern limit 
of the Coluber estivus is also uncertain; Professor Geddings has seen it near 
Baltimore, and Dr. Pickering has “been credibly informed of its existence not far 
from Philadelphia.” Beyond this latitude it probably does not reach, its place 
farther north being supplied by the Coluber vernalis of Dekay, an animal to which 
it bears much resemblance. 
Generar Remarks. There is no doubt that this animal was first made known 
to naturalists by Catesby, who called it the Green Snake, and described its habits 
very accurately. Linneus, however, gave the first scientific description of it, from 
a specimen sent him by Dr. Garden, and called it Coluber estivus, by which name 
it has since been generally known. 
