HARMLESSNESS OF SNAKES. 807 



kite, the buzzard, and the raven, which prey on it 

 occasionally, are too seldom found. greatly to reduce 

 the race; and its deep retirement in the winter 

 seems to secure it from fatal injuries by the seve- 

 rity of the weather: yet, in the warm days of spring, 

 when it awakens from its torpidity and basks upon 

 our sunny banks, the numbers that appear are not 

 proportionate to what might be expected from the 

 number of eggs produced, Few creatures can as- 

 sail it in its dormitory, yet its paucity proves that 

 it is not exempt from mortality and loss. The 

 mole may follow it in its retirement, but would 

 hardly attempt to seize so large an animal. The 

 polecat and the weazel, too, can enter its runs ; are 

 sufficiently bold and strong to attempt the conquest ; 

 and not improbably in the winter season resort to 

 such food, the poor snake having no power of de- 

 fending itself, or of avoiding the assault. The 

 common snake of this country is a very harmless, 

 unobtrusive creature ; so timid, as to avoid the pre- 

 sence of man whenever he appears, hiding itself as 

 much as possible in bushes and rugged places from 

 his sight. At times a strong fetor proceeds from 

 it ; but this appears to be sexual, or made use of 

 as the means of annoying its enemies. It possesses 

 no power to commit injury, and has apparently no 

 inclination to molest any thing beyond its require- 

 ments for food, as frogs and mice. When a young 

 man, I have repeatedly handled it with impunity ; 

 and though often bitten, a temporary swelling, with 

 slight inflammation, was the only result ; but in 



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