REPTILES. 89 



Ventral surface yellow or greenish j^ellow, occasionally with faint 

 blotches of brown. 



In uniformly colored individuals the ground color is greenish 

 olive to black; the ventral surface being immaculate gTeenish or 

 yellowish. In black individuals the spots are usually entirely want- 

 ing; in the olivaceous specimens the black nuchal spots are often 

 distinct, and the vertebral and lateral ones are often faintly in 

 evidence. 



Hahlts and EuMtat: As stated below, this species has been found 

 in but few localities in Michigan, but the evidence seems to indicate 

 that it prefers dr}^ woods and occurs particularly in sandy regions. 

 ] t is one of the most interesting of the northeastern North American 

 snakes. Its stocky build and upturned snout give it a particularly 

 savage appearance, which is greatly enhanced by its peculiar habit 

 of flattening out the fore part of the body, and hissing loudly 

 when disturbed. It also feigns death by throwing itself on its 

 back, writhing as if in agony with the mouth widely opened, and 

 then lying perfectly relaxed. It will retain this posture for a con- 

 siderable time, and if turned over on the ventral surface will im- 

 mediately turn over on its back again. Its formidable appearance, 

 and the peculiar habit of flattening its body and hissing loudlj- have 

 furnished the basis for the most exaggerated stories, earned for 

 it the common names blowing adder, hognosed viper, hissing 

 viper, etc., and given rise to the general impression that it is a very 

 venomous and greatly to be feared serpent. As a matter of fact 

 the eastern hognosed snake is not only entirely harmless but can 

 scarcely be induced to bite, and makes a most interesting snake in 

 captivity. The food seems to consist almost entirely of toads, 

 altho we have observed them to eat frogs in captivity. Insects are 

 often found in their stomachs, but there is no reason to believe 

 that these are taken in any other way than in the stomachs of the 

 toads they have swallowed. The species is oviparous. 



Etuuje: The species has been reported from Michigan (Sager, 

 1839, 302, Miles, 1861, 233), Ann Arbor (Smith, 1879, 6), Wayne, 

 Kalamazoo, Van Buren, Allegan and Barry Counties (Clark, 1905, 

 110), McKinley, Oscoda County, Manistee, Manistee County and 

 Pearl Beach, St. Clair County (Ruthven, 1909a, 117), Huron 

 County (Ruthven, 1911a, 205), and Cass County (Thompson, 1911, 

 107). We have seen specimens from Manistee, Detroit, the sand 

 region of Huron County, between Bayport and Port Austin, Alma, 

 Gratiot County, Cass County, and Douglas Lake, Cheboygan 

 County. 



