13. COLUBRIDM 



Stop abruptly in some thicket while still in sight. Then a 

 more satisfactory view of it may be obtained, but we liave 

 never known a Red Racer to allow himself to be noosed. 



"Although usually seen on the ground, this snake is a 

 good climber, and is not infrequently discovered in bushes 

 and trees. One day last May, Adriaan Van Rossem, one of 

 our pupils in zoology, found a woodpecker's nest-hole in 

 a tree-trunk. The nest then contained four eggs. The site 

 was again visited a few days later, when upon climbing to 

 the nest instead of the eggs it was found to be occupied by 

 a Red Racer. The snake was routed out; and since no 

 vestige of the eggs was found, it was inferred that the 

 snake had eaten them. We have heard of several other 

 instances of the nest-robbing habit of this reptile, so that 

 tne lessening numbers of the Red Racer may be somewhat 

 of a blessing to the bird population of our region." 



Little is known regarding the food of this snake, but it 

 probably eats birds and eggs as well as mammals and liz- 

 ards. Stejneger records one which had eaten a mouse (Sit- 

 omys). Ruthven mentioned one which was seen to capture 

 a lizard (Cnemidophorus melanostethus), and Cowles saw 

 one seize a Cnemido-phorus tessellatus tessellatus. 



Mr. Slevin says that, in the Cape Region of Lower Cal- 

 ifornia, brush fences around the numerous little ranch 

 houses furnished excellent hiding places for this racer. Sev- 

 eral of the specimens taken were found in these fences 

 where they lay stretched out at full length awaiting their 

 prey. Lizards, to escape their natural enemies, the hawks, 

 sought refuge here and seldom would a snake have to wait 

 long before it would have several chances to secure a meal. 

 This species, with the exception of the water snake, was the 

 most abundant serpent met with. They were not found 

 above the floor of the desert and were generally confined to 

 the more brushy portions. Their food consisted of the nu- 



