288 RAMBLES ABOUT HOME. 



perhaps, a fairly good name, as the habit indicated by this 

 name is most marked in this species. 



In the entire range of animal life I know of no creat- 

 ure so thoroughly harmless as this snake ; yet, as it flattens 

 its head, hisses loudly, springs menacingly, and snaps 

 fiercely, it is credited by many with all the venom of the 

 rattlesnake, which, by the way, it quite closely resembles 

 in many ways. 



As an object of study it presents much that is of 

 peculiar interest. "Without fangs, or even teeth of suffi- 

 cient length to produce a wound beyond a mere pin- 

 prick, it presents the outward appearance and has the 

 pose and movement of the venomous serpents generally. 

 Wholly unable to inflict the slightest injury, it has always 

 puzzled me to understand why it should not, like all our 

 other snakes, seek safety in flight. May w^e hold that it 

 realizes the full meaning of the peculiar powers of the 

 venomous serpent it mimics so admirably, and trusts to its 

 being mistaken for a rattlesnake ? Indeed, this mimicry 

 has been perfect, in some instances that I have witnessed, 

 inasmuch as the tail of the snake was rapidly vibrated 

 against dead leaves, and so produced a sound that was 

 strikingly similar to that of the rattlesnake. This simi- 

 larity was, of course, accidental, as it was by mere chance 

 that dry leaves were lying about; but at various other 

 times I have noticed that the tail was held in the same 

 position and vibrated in precisely the same manner as 

 that of the rattlesnake. In these instances I thought I 

 detected a faint whirring sound, or a buzzing, but on this 

 point I am not positive. 



Mimicry, on the part of snakes, is a ready way of ex- 

 plaining some of their habits ; but even when accepted, 

 it remains to be shown how it originated. Is there any 

 evidence that in former times the hog-nosa snake and 



