82 



A NATURE WOOING. 



I afterwards spend some time searching beneath 

 the loose bark of old pine logs in the woods, north- 

 west of town, but find little other than what I have 

 taken. Beneath this bark is the favorite abiding 

 place of the blue-tailed skink, Eumeces fasciatus L. 

 Here, roaches, ants, and other lizard delicacies are 

 common. Here is protection from frost and from 

 birds of prey. At least a dozen were found beneath 

 this pine bark shelter during my morning's search. 

 Here, too, abides the pretty little ring-necked snake, 

 Diadophis punctatus L. A specimen taken this morn- 



Fig. 24-Ring-necked Snake. 



ing differs from those of the north in having the ring 

 about the neck salmon red, instead of creamy white. 

 It is but eight inches in length ; above, blue-black in 

 color ; below, bright orange, with two lateral rows of 

 blackish blotches, and a median row of similar spots 

 between the head and tail. 



In the afternoon I take my way to a grassy slope 

 beyond a large, vacant house. Here I bask, like a 



