SNAKES 151 



from the largest occupant of the cage, who, after some 

 difficulty, was made to disgorge his companion. The most 

 remarkable point, however, in connection with this incident 

 lies in the fact that the snake that had undergone the 

 unpleasant experience was not only quite well and active 

 on its release, but actually went on feeding and devoured 

 a couple of mice within five minutes of being disgorged. 

 The King Snake wages war against all other snakes, and 

 is decidedly useful, inasmuch as it makes no exception of 

 the rattlesnakes, moccasins, and other deadly American 

 species, to the poison of which it is immune. The snake 

 is usually found in moist or shady localities, but does not 

 often take to water or climb trees. 



The snakes of the North American genus Heterodon, 

 known as the Hog-nosed Snakes, on account of their 

 turned-up snouts, are very viperine in appearance, having 

 short and stout bodies and very flat and triangular heads. 

 The raised snout is capped with a strong triangular shield, 

 which enables them to excavate in the sand of the dry pine 

 districts they inhabit. Although they very seldom bite, 

 the Hog-nosed Snakes take up a most threatening attitude 

 when disturbed, hissing violently, spreading out the 

 anterior ribs, and simultaneously flattening out the skin 

 of the fore part of their bodies. 



The Common Hog-nosed Snake, H. platyrhifius, of the 

 United States, east of the Rocky Mountains, which is 

 subject to great variation in colour, is generally of a dusky 

 grey, marked with a triple series of dark blotches, those of 

 the vertebral series being very large and separated from 

 each other by light interspaces. In Carolina and Georgia 

 a variety occurs which is entirely black above, the creature. 



