The Hog-nosed Snakes 



poisonous that its very hiss is the exhalation of a venomous 

 breath. The reptile is known by such formidable names as 

 " Flat-headed Adder," the " Puff Adder," the "Spreading Viper" 

 and "Blow Snake." In many districts it is mistaken for the 

 copperhead snake. 



The food of this snake seems limited to toads and frogs. 

 It much prefers the former. As explained in the description, the 

 light specimens occur usually in very dry, sandy places, while the 

 darker forms are found in woods or moist situations. The dark 

 specimens will usually eat both frogs and toads; the light spec- 

 imens, with few exceptions, refuse frogs altogether and confine 

 their diet to toads. The species feeds voraciously in captivity. 

 The majority of specimens will so gorge themselves that further 

 feeding is temporarily impossible. The wide head and great 

 elasticity of the jaws enables this snake to swallow very large 

 prey in proportion to its size. It is not unusual for a small snake 

 to engage in a struggle with a very large toad; the toad may be 

 possibly three or four times the diameter of the thickest part of 

 the snake's body, and the little reptile may be rolled and dragged 

 about by the batrachian for nearly an hour, but finally engulfs 

 the toad, which so distends and weighs down the serpent's body 

 that it drags itself with great difficulty to a place of concealment 

 to await assimilation of the meal. During the process of swal- 

 lowing a large and vigorous toad the reptile is greatly aided by 

 the pair of large teeth in the rear of the mouth, which, being 

 sharply recurved, hold the struggling prey in a grip that seldom fails. 



The Hog-nosed Snake is oviparous, depositing about two 

 dozen eggs, during the latter part of July. The eggs are white 

 and leathery, and like most snake eggs are so deposited in a 

 cluster that they adhere together. As has been noted with ser- 

 pents' eggs in general, they absorb moisture as they deyelop and 

 gradually increase in size. Just prior to the time of hatching 

 they are at least a third larger than when laid and distorted in 

 form; they are then rather spherical instead of elongated as at 

 the time of deposit. 



THE BLACK HOG-NOSED SNAKE; BLACK "ADDER" 



Heterodon platyrlinus , variety niger, (Baird & Girard) 

 This formidable looking reptile is but a colour variety of 

 the preceding snake. While the writer is not in favour of 



382 



