SHORT STUDIES OF SNAKES. 295 



coiled up on beds of dry, dead leaves ; and throughout 

 September and later I have seldom found them in the 

 ditches and surrounding meadows, which seem to be their 

 haunts in spring and early summer. 



This little brown snake is readily tamed, and can be 

 taught to take flies from the fingers. Indeed, I think 

 they recognize those who are accustomed to feed or handle 

 them. 



Another snake, perhaps less common than the fore- 

 going, but more conspicuous from its greater size and 

 brilliant markings, is the ribbon-snake, or " swift garter." 

 Of all our serpents, this is my favorite. For hours I 

 have played with them, and never knew one to exhibit 

 any ill-temper, even when teased persistently. While 

 perfectly at home in the water, this serpent can not be 

 considered as aquatic or even semi-aquatic. Far more 

 frequently I have found them in the high and dry woods, 

 not always creeping or darting over the dead leaves, but 

 in trees and bushes, several feet from the ground, where 

 they seem to be quite at home, twisting and turning amid 

 the tangled branches of the stunted oaks as freely as if 

 on smooth ground. Just what they were seeking in such 

 situations I could never determine, for I never saw them 

 robbing birds' nests nor peering into squirrels' homes in 

 the hollow trees. Tree-toads, I know, they occasionally 

 capture, but these are not sufficiently abundant to induce 

 a snake to spend much time in hunting for them. 



It is eminently true of this snake, and I believe it is 

 equally so of all our smaller snakes, that they prey very 

 largely upon insects. I do not suppose that the aggre- 

 gate of insect-life thus destroyed is very large, for these 

 animals, as a class, are not voracious feeders. Yery often 

 a mouse serves them as a meal, and satisfies their hunger 



