74 BULLETIN OF THE ESSEX INSTITUTE. 



forests or darker terrestrial surfaces. Possibly it might 

 be argued that ages of residence under a luxuriant vegeta- 

 tion evolved the negro skin and that the modifying influ- 

 ence of desert life is seen in the brown of the Bedouin. 

 But where did we get our pale sMnf 



That the psychological influence of mountainous or 

 prairie regions, sea-girt coasts, dense silvas or alpine snows 

 may afiect national character is a common and plausible 

 theory — but we have wandered from reptiles. 



Our Bufo Americaiius LeC. is protected from enemies 

 not only by some variation of hue and diurnal repose, 

 but also by an acrid skin and a way he has in extremities 

 of swelling himself, stiffening his hind legs, arching his 

 back and bringing his head to the ground about in the 

 position by which the small boy was formerly instructed 

 to frighten off" a mad bull ! The toad adds to these strange 

 doings a guttural croak and altogether makes himself so 

 uncanny that even a starving crow might well fear to 

 swallow such a possibility of being " hoist with his own 

 petar." These creatures, like many others, find obvious 

 protection in prolific breeding. 



Our graceful and beautifuUj^ colored ribbon snake, Eu- 

 tcenia saurita B. and G., has a device for escape that I 

 have often noticed. When capturing these creatures I 

 have been wont to take them by the tip of the tail. As soon 

 as this snake discovers the hopelessness of escape by other 

 means it will swing itself around in a circle till it twists 

 off" the tip which is held and thus, if possible, escapes. 

 The gyrations, so far as I observed, were always in the 

 same direction — from left to right, unless my memory is 

 at fault. 



Sitting under a tree, one summer afternoon, like a flash 

 two somethings passed within a yard of me, and paused 

 just beyond in the taller grass, near bushes. I saw imme- 



