584 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 



and another August 29. In 1900, one seen July 13, 17 and 20, all 

 on the west side ; one seen on east side of Lost Lake August 1, one 

 at Fish Commission Station August 7, and one near the Inlet 

 August 16. In 191, one in Culver Bay May 3; a large one on 

 west side May 6 ; one near Farrar's May 23 ; a large one on Long 

 Point June 2 ; another on Long Point June 16 ; one at Outlet June 

 19 ; one 3 feet 9 inches long on west side June 22 ; and a small one 

 on Long Point June 24. In 1906 a large one found dead on Long 

 Point August 15, a small one in Green's marsh, one at Outlet and 

 one on Yellow River August 16. During the summer of 1906, 

 after the dam was thrown across the Outlet at the railroad bridge 

 the water in the Outlet below the dam became very low, and water 

 snakes could be found along the edge of the water almost any 

 time a visit was made to that place. Attempts were made to get 

 some of them but they escaped, as they usually do, by diving. 



This is the species more often seen in the water than any other. 

 It delights to lie coiled on some old log or root in or at the edge 

 of the stream or on the timbers at the dam or the logs of the "drift." 

 It inhabits rather open woodland ponds in great abundance, and 

 in such places they often collect several together on projecting 

 logs. In such situations it lies in wait, basking in the sun, mak- 

 ing short excursions now and then into the water after fish or frog, 

 or dropping quietly into the stream when disturbed by the near 

 approach of anyone. Then it hides under the bank, only its head 

 being out of the water, or else swims swiftly away and out of reach. 

 While swimming it usually keeps its head above water, but when 

 closely pressed or annoyed it will go entirely under and swim along 

 on or near the bottom. 



The Water Snake is frequently called "moccasin", or "red-belly" 

 and is by many believed to be deadly poisonous. Its bite is, how- 

 ever, entirely harmless, and it is very different from the venomous 

 "water-moccasin" or cotton-mouth of the south. 



Although the Water Snake is non-venomous, it has very little 

 to commend it. It is repulsive in appearance and spiteful in tem- 

 per. It is more destructive to fishes than any other of our snakes ; 

 indeed, it seems to subsist chiefly en fish. It will eat any kind of 

 fish it can catch, though it doubtless prefers the soft-rayed species, 

 such as the minnows, suckers and trout ; it surely finds them easier 

 to handle than the spiny-rayed species such as the bass and perch. 

 We have found many different fishes in the stomach of the water 

 snake; among them we may mention suckers of various species, 

 various minnows, bass, rock-bass, sunfish, eel, carp and catfish. 

 One large Water Snake was found that had attempted to swallow 



