CLASS III. REPTILIA: ORDER 4. OPHIDIA. 



39T 



from man; wlieii irritatcil, it brandishes its tongue in a threatening manner. It is not venomous, 

 but if taken in the liaiitl it will sometimes bite, inflictino; a troublesome thouijh not dantrerous 

 wouiiil. It takes to the water readily in pui'suit of its prey, and chiefly affects lnw marshy 

 places, though it is sometimes found in elevated districts. It is often met with in great numbers, 

 and sometimes in company with i-attlesnakcs under peat moss, at a sufficient depth to protect it 

 from the frost. It passes under the various names of Green Garter-Snake^ Stone Garter^ Swamp 

 Garter, Water Garter, and Strijted Adder. 



There are some other species of this genus in tlie United States, as the Yellow-Bellied 

 Snake, T. leberis, two to three feet long; found in the Middle States; and the Small Brown 

 Snake, T. De Ka>ji, about fifteen inches long, of a reddish-brown color, and living in or near 

 water ; found in Massachusetts and Louisiana. 



THE TREE-SNAKES. 



There are many serpents of very slender form, which, while living more or less on the land, 



frequently ascend trees, especially in pur- 

 suit of their prey. They are generally 

 nimble, hannless, and beautiful species. 



" The whole of the serpents compos- 

 ing these genera live," says Mr. Bell, " in 

 woods, entwining themselves among the 

 branches of trees, and gliding with great 

 rapidity and elegance from one to another. 

 These habits, combined with the graceful 

 slenderness of their form, the beautiful 

 metallic reflection from the surfiice in 

 some species, and the bright and change- 

 able hues in others, place them among the 

 most interesting of the serpent tribe. 

 Their food consists of large insects, young 

 birds, and so forth, which the extraordi- 

 nary size of the head, the width of the 

 gape, and the great dilatability of the 

 neck and body, enable them to swallow, 

 notwithstanding the small size of these 

 parts in a state of rest. In a specimen in 

 my possession, the length of which is four 

 feet nine inches, the diameter of the neck 

 is hardly two lines. When the skin is 

 distended either by food or during inspira- 

 tion, the scales are separated from each 

 other, and the skin, which is of a difterent 

 color, becomes ^■isible in the interstices, 

 producing a curious I'eticulated appear- 

 ance. Notwithstanding the poisonous 

 m.ark was affixed by Linnfcus to the only 

 species of Dryinus known to him, Coluber 

 mycterizans, it is well ascertained that they 

 are all of them perfectly harmless ; and it is 

 asserted of that species that the children are in the habit of taming and playing with them, twin- 

 ing them round their necks and arms, and that the snakes appear pleased at being thus caressed." 

 Genus DRYINUS; Dryinus.—To this belongs the Golden Tree Snake, D. aicratus, four to 

 five feet long ; color yellowish-gray, gleaming Avith a pale golden hue, and dotted with whitish 

 and black ; native of Mexico. There are several other American species. 



THE GOLDEN TREE SNAKE. 



