208 ] Snakes and Frogs and Their Relatives 



bad reputation. When it is frightened, it immediately swells its 

 body, flattens its neck like a cobra, and hisses in a vicious manner. 

 These fearsome actions have earned it such names as "spreading 

 adder," "blowing viper," and "blow snake." 



However, the hognose has no poisonous power whatever. If 

 it succeeds in bluffing its enemy, it quickly calms down and crawls 

 into seclusion. If the bluff fails, "hognose" plays dead, rolling 

 over on its back and becoming completely quiet! 



How the Hognose Got Its Name: This snake has a remarkable 

 nose. It is equipped with a hard, trowel-shaped shield that plows 

 efficiently into loose soil and often roots out toads that are buried 

 near the surface. Its diet is made up exclusively of toads and frogs. 



THE MALIGNED MILK SNAKE 



This snake is the subject of one of the most fantastic of 

 all snake myths. According to the fable, the milk snake milks 

 cows. Not only is this feat physically impossible, but no milk 

 snake in captivity could ever be persuaded to drink milk. This 

 snake's presence in barns and stables is explained by its liking 

 for mice and rats as food. Thus, instead of being a menace, the 

 milk snake is an ally of the farmer. 



Though the milk snake's ground color is light gray, it is cov- 

 ered with so many brown or dark gray spots that either of these 

 may seem to be the predominating color. The underside is white 

 with square black spots and blotches. A fully grown specimen 

 ranges from thirty inches to three feet long. 



KING SNAKES CANNIBALS 



The common king snake is an impressive-looking creature, 

 for it may attain a length of six feet. In the natural state it is a 

 cannibal; in fact it is noted for its attacks on other snakes even 

 rattlers. It is black and decorated with yellow spots and bands. 

 Strangely enough, some king snakes in captivity show no interest 

 in snakes as food, while others will eat nothing else. King snakes 

 are nevertheless easy to feed as a rule, and are inclined to be 

 docile with their keepers. There are fourteen different kinds of 



