582 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 



all parts of the United States, and it is by far the most abundant 

 snake about Lake Maxinkuckee; it is probably more numerous 

 than all other species combined. 



It may be found in all sorts of situations; in cultivated fields 

 and gardens, about yards and barn lots, in grassy meadows and in 

 open woodland, in marshy ground along streams and about lakes, 

 and particularly along paths and public highways. It perhaps 

 most delights in reedy, boggy places and lake margins. It is the 

 first snake to be abroad in the spring and one of the last to go into 

 hibernation in the fall. The first warm days of spring will rouse 

 them from their winter's sleep and bring them forth to bask in 

 the sun. Then they may be found usually lying at full length on 

 a mass of dead grass along a fence row or in some such situation 

 well exposed so as to get the full effect of the sun's warmest rays. 

 Here they will lie quietly through the middle of the day soaking out 

 the accumulated chill of the long winter. Thus they will pass sev- 

 eral days before they begin to move about or to seek food. 



In the fall they appear to be active to the last, continuing to 

 eat until they go into their winter quarters. At this season they 

 seem to move about more than usual, perhaps because searching for 

 suitable liibernacula. It is in this season that one so frequently ob- 

 serves their tracks across the dusty highway and when so many 

 are run over and crushed by wagons. 



Numerous examples were noted about the lake and many speci- 

 mens obtained. Our earliest record is April 9 and the latest No- 

 vember 22. The species was noted in all the situations mentioned 

 above. 



This and all other species of the garter snakes are viviparous, 

 bringing forth their young alive. A female 3 feet long was killed 

 July 26 and 40 young each 6 to 7 inches long were taken from her 

 body. Dr. J. Schenck, of Mt. Carmel, 111., reports that 78 young 

 3 to 7 inches long were taken from a female 35 inches long. 



The Garter Snake has quite a varied menu ; they are known to 

 feed upon insects, insect larvse, small rodents, young birds and 

 birds' eggs, toads, frogs, angleworms, small mollusks, tadpoles, 

 salamanders, and small fish. Frogs, toads, fish, shrews and field 

 mice doubtless constitute the major portion of their diet. One 

 found dead on the railroad tracks near the elevator in the late 

 autumn of 1906 was quite fat, as snakes are likely to be at that 

 time of year. The stomach was empty of food, but contained a 

 few ascarid-like parasites. 



On the whole, however, this snake is beneficial to the farm and 

 should be protected. The disposition which most people have to 



