THE REPTILIA 



325 



are the grass or garter snakes (Fig. 202) wliich occur all over this 

 country. The body is olive color with three long yellow stripes; 

 this renders it rather inconspicuous and enables it to creep upon the 

 frogs, toads, fishes, and earthworms which serve it as food, with- 

 out being seen (aggressive coloration, see p. 30). The eggs 

 of the garter snake hatch within the body and the young emerge 

 in August. 



Contrary to general belief, most of the water snakes are as harm- 

 less as the garter snakes. Like the frogs, they live in swampy 

 places, and escape into the water when approached closely. 

 The common water snake is frequently called " water mocca- 

 sin," but these two species are quite different. 



FIG. 203. Black snake or " blue " racer. (Photo, by Hegner.) 



Among the other harmless snakes that one is apt to encounter 

 are the black snake or " blue " racer (Fig. 203), which lives in dry, 

 open situations and feeds on small animals such as mice, frogs, 

 and young birds; the milk snake, which is wrongly accused of 

 stealing milk from cows; the hog-nosed snake, commonly known 

 as the " puff adder," " spreading viper," or " blow snake," be- 



