224 CORN SNAKL THUNDEK SNAKE. 



pay more attention to the serpent tribe when we visit South 

 America, where the rattlesnake is also found, we will wait 

 till then to inspect the formation of its rattle, and its other 

 peculiarities. 



THE CORN SNAKE. 



Thei'e are many more harmless than venomous snakes in 

 North America. One of the handsomest of its tribe is the 

 corn snake, belonging to the family of the Colubrinse. As it 

 avoids the daylight, though very common, it is not often seen 

 in a wild state. 



It is, however, frequently tamed by the inhabitants of farm- 

 houses — when it makes itself perfectly at home, and is even 

 of more service than a cat in devourino- rats and mice; 

 though occasionally, if a young chicken come in its way, it 

 may gobble it up. This it can easily do, as it is of great 

 size — varying from five to six feet in length. The colours of 

 its body are remarkably brilliant ; the general tint being a 

 rich chestnut red, with large patches of a still brighter and 

 deeper red edged with black running along each side, and a 

 second row of smaller spots of golden yellow, alternated with 

 larger ones. The lower portion of the body is silvery white, 

 checkered with black. 



THE THUNDER SNAKE. 



No fiercer-looking member of the snake family exists in 

 North America — with its mottled head, and black and white 

 body, four feet at least in length- — than the quaiTelsome 

 tliunder snake. From the chain-like markings on its body, 

 it is sometimes called the chain snake ; and by others the king 

 snake, on account of its tyrannical disposition. 



Though fangless, it is fierce and bold, and has been known 



