Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 585 



a large catfish but the catfish straightened out and set its pectoral 

 spines, and the snake, being unable to get the fish either up or 

 down, perished, a victim of his own greed. 



Besides fish the Water Snake feeds also on frogs, crawfish and 

 young birds. 



The water snakes mate early in spring, soon after coming out 

 of their winter quarters, and then sometimes congregate in num- 

 bers of four or five together. The species is viviparous. In Au- 

 gust, 1899, an old snake was found on the railroad track near the 

 ice-houses. It had been run over by a train and 10 young which 

 it contained were prematurely liberated. 



The Water Snake probably comes out and basks on bright days 

 in autumn after it has ceased taking food. One found dead near 

 Farrar's in the autumn of 1906, October 20, was cut open and the 

 stomach found to be empty, except for some ascarid-like parasites. 

 The mesenteries were well loaded with a supply of fat probably 

 for the subsistence of the snake during its hibernation. It con- 

 tained 30 ova, 15 on each side. 



Color, brownish; back and sides each with a series of large 

 square, dark blotches alternating with each other, about 80 in each 

 series ; belly with brown blotches ; rows of scales 23 ; ventral plates 

 130 to 150. Length 2 to 4 feet. 



6. FOX SNAKE 



ELAPHE VULPINA (Baird & Girard) 



This large and beautiful snake ranges from New England west- 

 ward to Kansas and northward. It does not appear to be com- 

 mon about Lake Maxinkuckee, as our notes record but eight ex- 

 amples, as follows: A fine example on west shore of Lost Lake 

 early in July, 1900, and another large one near same place July 8 ; 

 one seen near Lost Lake September 3, and a large one gotten on 

 Long Point September 25; one in Walley's woods August 25; 

 another on Long Point September 25 ; one about 6 feet long August 

 14, 1906, west of Culver near the beaver dam prairie on the road 

 to Bass Lake; and a large one near the Gravelpit early in June, 

 1907. Individuals seem most frequent in late summer or early fall. 



The Fox Snake, often called the Pine Snake, frequents the dry, 

 open woods and the neighborhood of briar patches and copses. We 

 have never observed it in the water or on the immediate lake shore. 

 It is often called the Pilot Snake and is supposed to have some 

 mysterious connection with the rattlesnake. Though entirely 

 harmless, it is one of the most viciously disposed snakes. When 



