Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 587 



robin, dove and redwing, which place their nests not far above 

 the ground, and the bluebird, chickadee, and downy woodpecker, 

 which deposit their eggs in holes in trees or snags not many feet 

 up, are often despoiled of their eggs or young by this snake. 



We have often seen blacksnakes coiled up on limbs of trees or 

 crawling about among limbs several feet above the ground evi- 

 dently searching for birds' nests. One of us remembers seeing a 

 bluebird greatly disturbed by a large Blacksnake which was appar- 

 ently about to climb to the bluebird's nest which was in a hole only 

 3 or 4 feet up in an old elm snag. The snake was coiled up at 

 the foot of the snag, its head elevated perhaps a foot or 18 inches, 

 and it watched the bird intently, its head moving this way 

 and that, following closely the movements of the bird, which 

 fluttered incessantly about the snake and was probably as com- 

 pletely "charmed" or under the power of the snake as birds ever 

 get. When approached the snake became frightened and crawled 

 away among the bushes ; and then the bird flew to a limb near by. 



A friend who is a close observer of animals tells us that he once 

 saw a ruffed grouse fighting a Blacksnake which was endeavoring 

 to rob the grouse's nest. He shot the snake, and the grouse, after 

 showing some astonishment, feigned lameness to lead him away 

 from the nest. 



Another friend says that he once saw a chipmunk "charmed" 

 by a large Blacksnake. The chipmunk was on a log about 12 feet 

 long and the snake at one side near the middle of the log and with 

 head elevated somewhat more than the height of the top of the log. 

 The chipmunk when first seen was uttering the well-known chirp- 

 ing note so expressive of solicitude and running back and forth on 

 the log, at first the full length of the log, then less and less until 

 it ran but a few inches each way from the snake whose head all 

 the time moved to the right and to the left, following closely the 

 movements of the little rodent. At the same time the snake's tail, 

 elevated and rigid was rapidly vibrating and making a noise not 

 unlike that made by a rattlesnake. Unfortunately the observer 

 shot the snake without waiting to learn if the chipmunk were 

 really in any manner under the control of the reptile. 



The Blacksnake is not rare about Lake Maxinkuckee. Our 

 notes record seven or eight individuals seen at different times. 

 The earliest record is the last week in May and the latest October 

 14. A large example seen east of Lost Lake on the latter date was 

 quite stupid and declined to move. A 4-foot individual seen in 

 Walley's woods was evidently blind, due to shedding its skin which 

 was so loose that it slipped off when the snake was handled. The 



