Reptile Study 203 



4. In what position is the snake when it rests? Can you see how 

 it moves? Look upon the lower side. Can you see the Httle plates 

 extending crosswise? Do you think it moves by moving these plates? 

 Let it crawl across your hand, and see if you can tell how it moves. 



5. What does the garter snake eat? Did you ever see one swallow 

 a toad? A frog? Did it take it head first or tail first? 



6. Where does the garter spend the winter? How early does it 

 appear in the spring? 



7 . At what time of year do you see the young snakes ? Do the young 

 ones run down the throat of the mother for safety when attacked ? Does 

 the mother snake defend her young? 



8. What enemies has the garter snake? 



'No life in earth or air or sky; 

 The sunbeams, broken silently. 

 On the bared rocks around me lie, — 



Cold rocks with half-wartned lichens scarred. 

 And scales of tnoss; and scarce a yard 

 Away, one long strip, yellow-barred. 



Lost in a cleft! 'Tis but a stride 

 To reach it, thrust its roots aside. 

 And lift it on thy stick astride! 



Yet stay! That moment is thy grace! 

 For round thee, thrilling air and space, 

 A chattering terror fills the place! 



A sound as of dry bones that stir, 

 In the dead valley! By yon fir _ 

 The locust stops its noon-day whir! 



The wild bird hears; smote with the sound. 



As if by bullet brought to ground 



On broken wing, dips, wheeling round! 



The hare, transfixed, with trembling lip, 

 Halts breathless, on pulsating hip. 

 And palsied tread, and heels that slip. 



Enough, old friend! — 'tis thou. Forget 

 My heedless foot, nor longer fret 

 The peace with thy grim castanet!" 



From "Crotalus" (The Rattlesnake), Bret Harte. 



