134 THE COACH- WHIP SNAKE. 



It also feeds much on birds, especially when they are young, and is consequently an object 

 of detestation to the feathered tribes. It often happens that the locality of the Black Snake 

 is indicated by the proceedings of the little birds, which collect above their hated enemy, scold 

 with harsh cries, flutter their wings noisily, and by dint of continual annoyance will often 

 drive the reptile away from the locality. It has been thought that this Sei-pent was in the 

 habit of killing its prey by j)ressure, after the fashion of tlie boas, l)ut this statement has 

 not been satisfactorily confirmed. 



The color of this Snake is blue-black above, and ashen slate below, becoming rather 

 whiter upon the throat. In some specimens a number of spots are observed upon the back of 

 a deeper and duller hue than the general tint. In length the Black Snake genei-ally reaches 

 from five to six feet. 



This familiar Serpent of our country-side is the beau ideal of its race ; expressing the 

 most slender and graceful form, with an extreme length of body. The tail is prolonged 

 gradually to a mere point, and becomes highly prehensile. The head is graceful, and the 

 steel-bluish, unifonn color, with the beautifully tessellated arrangement of scales, all tend to 

 render the creature attractive in spite of its being a Snake, usually the embodiment of the 

 unsightly. Add to this, the Black Snake is the most active of its order ; and even the 

 most powerful. 



This is widely distributed over the United States. A species found in California is 

 dedicated to General Fremont. It has a stouter body and a larger head than the preced- 

 ing. Nine other species wiU. be found enumerated in the catalogue at the end of this 

 volume. 



Bead Snake {Ela.ps fuhmis). Inhabits Virginia and southward to Alabama. It is also 

 called Harlequin, from its curiously marked body. Though jiossessing poison-fangs, it 

 is very gentle and mild in disposition. It is jet-black, with seventeen broad crimson 

 rings, each bordered with yellow. Two other species are recorded, M tenere, and £J. tristis, 

 of Texas. 



Ribbon Snake {EutcB7iia sawriia). Called also Swift Garter Snake. The markings are 

 slender and ribbon-like. Inhabits east of the Alleghanies and southward to Georgia. 



Fairies Gaeter Snake [B. faireyi). Inhabits the Mississippi valley, and northward to 

 Michigan. Sax's Garter Snake has the same habitat. Hay's Garter Snake inhabits 

 from Lake Michigan, westward to Oregon. 



Common Garter Snake {E. sirtalis), is the familiar striped Snake of eastern New 

 England, and is our most common species. Several varieties are known. Ten other species 

 ai'e also enumerated as inhabiting the United States. 



Water Adder ( Tropidonotus sipedon). This is an exceedingly common aquatic Snake, 

 indigenous to the Eastern United States. 



A variety, called the Red-bellied Water Snake, is common in Michigan. Twelve 

 distinct species are known as North American. 



The small, but interesting family of the Dryadidse contains a number of Serpents remark- 

 able for the slender elegance of their form, the delicate beauty of their coloring, and the 

 singular swiftness of their movements. 



Tlie well-loiown Coach-whip Snake, of North America, is a useful example of this 

 family. 



This remarkable rei^tile has not earned its i)0})ular name without good reason, for the 

 resemblance between one of these Serpents and a leather whip-thong is almost incredibly 

 close. 



The creature is very long in proportion to its width, the neck and head are very small, 



