SNAKE LORE FOR FOREST LOVERS 



449 



YOUNG OF THE PUFF ADDER 



Fig. 9. Here we have two pictures of the same specimen; it is 

 the beautifully marked young of our harmless Puff Adder or 

 Hog-nosed snake, the colors being a rich brown on a pale tan. 

 In the lower section of the picture the snake is blowing itself up 

 preparatory to puffing. 



They are most useful to the agriculturist as they catch 

 and devour thousands of field mice, while most of the 

 species the common King Snake in particular prey 

 upon the venomous snakes ; hence their name of King 

 Snakes. Hundreds upon hundreds of rattlers are trailed, 

 captured, and devoured by King snakes every year. To 

 see a King snake attack a big rattlesnake, get away with 

 him by squeezing him to death in its coils, and then swal- 



lowing him, is a scene not likely to be forgotten. One 

 of the most remarkable facts is that all King snakes are 

 immune with respect to the venom of venomous species. 

 One may inject with a hypodermic syringe a big dose 

 of rattlesnake poison into any part of the body of a King 

 snake, and it will have no more eflfect than so much 

 water. Copperheads are destroyed and eaten in the same, 

 way; so it may be said that this species and its various 

 subspecies should be protected and preserved on all oc- 

 casions, if for no other reason than what it accomplishes 

 in destroying the dangerous serpents of the country. 



Like the Indigo snake, the King snakes live in captivity 

 for years, and are always gentle and inoffensive towards 

 their keepers. They lay from ten to a couple of dozen of 

 eggs, which, under proper conditions, hatch out in about 

 a month and a half. The writer has had King snakes of 

 several forms in confinement on numerous occasions, and 

 has frequently noted their wonderful muscularity; it is 

 no wonder they possess the power to strangle to death 

 the biggest rattler that ever lived. 



Some of our handsomest serpents are the big, harmless, 

 and elegantly colored Rainbow snakes, as the Red-bellied 



CORAL SNAKE 



Fig. 10. Coral snakes, also known as "Harlequin Snakes," are 

 brilliantly colored species, the bands being black, orange, and 

 rich vermilion. It is a somewhat venomous species, and a few 

 deaths are recorded from its bite. They are more or less abun- 

 dant in Florida; the one here shown is the western form. 



