296 RAMBLES ABOUT HOME. 



for a week or more. It is probable, however, that the 

 number of mice and young squirrels destroyed by snakes 

 would be much greater if there were no insects for them 

 to feed upon. The larger grasshoppers, black crickets, 

 and even beetles, I have often found in the stomachs of 

 all our smaller upland snakes. 



Another very common species is the true garter-snake. 

 In the course of a summer more of these garter-snakes 

 are seen than of individuals of all our other species to- 

 gether. This arises from the fact, in part, that they are 

 a social snake, and a dozen or more will often wander 

 about a chosen haunt in company. I never find one but 

 I instinctively look about for its companions. They are 

 quite cunning, and, when hard pressed, exhibit considera- 

 ble ingenuity in their efforts to escape. They are also, at 

 times, very irritable, and when cornered they often show 

 fight as promptly as the hog-nose snakes. They can inflate 

 their bodies, slightly elevate the scales on their backs, and 

 thus present a somewhat formidable appearance. Their 

 needle-like teeth are also brought into play, and with a 

 great show of courage they bite viciously and even hold 

 on with some persistence. There, however, it ends. 



The eggs of this garter-snake, as well as those of the 

 preceding, are deposited in the loose, sandy soil of the 

 recently-plowed fields. I have found none earlier than 

 May 9th, and once on July 13th I found a complement 

 of seventeen, within a day or two of hatching. In every 

 instance they were in fields newly plowed and free of all 

 vegetation. The depth at which they were placed varied 

 from three to seven inches. 



It is not a little curious that, considering the large 

 numbers of eggs that are to be found in the earlier part 

 of summer, so few very small snakes are to be seen. I 



