386 NATURE-STUDY REVIEW [16:9— Dec, 1920 



black snake can bite rather hard, though said not to be poisonous. 

 One can tree such a snake when on horse-back. The dash and 

 clatter of the horse gives it a strong inclination to climb a bush or 

 tree to get out of the tumult. 



This species of snake can be made a pet, and any tendency to 

 bite can be checked by taking one stitch each side of its mouth, 

 and tying each stitch. This can be done almost painlessly, and 

 the snake can then readily drink milk, and its forked tongue can 

 be thrust out of its mouth. This tongue-play adds considerably 

 to the awesome effect. 



Of course, one has to be guarded in handling poisonous snakes, 

 and it would be better not to take any risks. The common green 

 grass-snakes and the small yellow and black striped snakes are 

 regarded as non-poisonous. There is a black water-snake which 

 on close observation appears mottled, and this snake might pass 

 for the common black snake. These darkly mottled snakes are 

 said to be poisonous. In case there are any fangs we will find 

 them folded back against the upper jaw. 



Once while driving through the woods, a queer looking snake 

 appeared in the road. It made us think of some pictures of 

 venemous East Indian snakes, because it had a remarkably large 

 head. On investigation, it appeared that a common snake had 

 attempted to swallow a frog, and the poor frog, as frogs will, had 

 inflated its body while its legs had been swallowed. The snake 

 was holding the inflated body high up to avoid obstructions and 

 the combined effect was rather startling at first sight. 



As an experiment a striped snake about two feet long was held 

 extended between both hands and dropped from a bridge. As it 

 struck the water a few feet below it appeared to be crippled, and 

 turned over and over in a queer way for about a minute. We 

 then saw: that the snake had bitten onto itself at about the middle 

 of its body. It soon let go its hold, however, and then swam off 

 freely as if in perfect condition. Therefore the self -biting could 

 not have had any serious effect. 



A black snake over five feet long was captured and put into a 

 roomy box with a glass cover. It would watch our motions and 

 often strike upward at the glass. It prepared for these lunges 

 by keeping its body in a close back-and-forth series of folds and 

 there was a constant slight progressive motion through these folds. 

 It did not form a true coil such as one sees pictured for a snake 



