SOME FLORIDA SNAKES. 145 



of the head and hold it up as it squirms and writhes, 

 for a closer view. It is evidently a slender form of 

 the common, harmless black snake, Bascanion con- 

 strictor L. I wish to compare it more critically with 

 northern forms, and so place it in the only receptacle 

 which I have at hand, a tin box, which it fills to the 

 brim. Reptiles, especially snakes, have been so 

 scarce heretofore that I have quit carrying the strong 

 muslin bag in which I usually place such forms. 

 Thinking it may, by writhing, force open the lid of 

 the box, I search my pockets for a string, but that, 

 too, is lacking, so I retrace my steps to the nearest 

 cabin in quest of one. Three negro men are in the 

 yard. One, old, fleshy and voluble of speech, imme- 

 diately I make my desire known, begins to talk of 

 snakes. He affirms that the one with red and black 

 rings, a species of Elaps which I have been told is 

 frequent about here, has a stinger in the end of its 

 tail which it uses as a defensive organ. I do not open- 

 ly deny his statement, but he is certainty mistaken. 

 He and his companions seem to know but four or 

 five species of snakes, viz., the Elaps mentioned, the 

 striped garter snake, the black snake which I show 

 them, the spreading viper or "spotted addah" and the 

 rattlesnake. According to their belief the bite of all 

 of these is "sho' nuif death/ 7 except that of the black 

 and garter snakes. In reality, the bite of but one, 

 the diamond rattlesnake, is known to be venomous, 

 though that of the Elaps is so reputed. I finally 



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