42 Catalogue of the Reptiles of Connecticut. 



*19. Coluber punctatus, Linn., Ringed Snake, Northford and 

 Hartford. 



*20. Coluber constrictor, Linn., Black Snake, common. 



*21. Coluber Alleghaniensis, Holbrook, White-throat Racer, 

 Northford. 



*22. Coluber sipedon, Linn., Black Water Snake, common. 



ches. I once saw a much longer individual of this species in Northford. Mr. 

 William G. Buell of Chatham, informs me he has lately seen one in that town, 

 and on visiting Litchfield County recently, I find it is not uncommon in the north- 

 ern parts of the state. 



*19. I have taken many individuals of the ringed snake at Northford, New Ha- 

 ven County. Mr. Wm. O. Ayres, an enterprising naturalist of East Hartford, 

 informs me, that he has seen one in that town the present season. Since writing 

 the above, I have seen a fine specimen at Darien, in this county, and heard of 

 several others. They are found under stones and more commonly under large 

 clods in new ploughed fields, and sometimes under the bark of decayed trees. 

 Length about 12 inches. Color bluish brown, with a white band around the neck. 

 These remarks are made here in order that it may be easily distinguished from 

 the racer, which is much longer. A gentleman in North Canaan lately informed 

 me that one of the large black ringed snakes, mentioned below, chased him I 

 think about sixty rods, and he then turned back upon him and killed him. 



*20. The common black snake is quite destructive to young birds. I have seen 

 him entwined around the bushes of the Cephalanthus occidenialis, (button bush.) 

 on which the red-winged blackbirds usually build their nests; and thus he gorged 

 a whole nest full of young birds, nearly ready to fly; while a large flock of the 

 old birds were pouncing down towards him in agonies at his cruel depredations. 



*21. I have seen and killed many of the long white-throated racers in Northford 

 from four to six feet in length. It is the most fleet and sprightly of the whole 

 family in our state. It usually frequents hills and mountainous situations. I have 

 seen one when greatly irritated bite his own back. But it is not poisonous. I 

 have seen the striped snake (No. 15) do the same and with most manifest malig- 

 nity. They strike with the upper jaw, rather than bite. As it is so long since 

 I have seen the white-throated racer, I cannot be positive it is this species. The 

 carinate scales would at once determine the point. 



*22. The black water snake often manifests a disposition to bite and occasion- 

 ally does so. One instance has been known to me in which the body of the snake 

 was severed in two by a scythe ; the head portion was about a foot in length, and it 

 then bit the mower in the foot, (on the instep ;) it swelled badly, was troublesome 

 for a length of time, though I believe no remedies were used to alleviate it, as it 

 was correctly believed not to be dangerous. They occasionally climb trees to a 

 considerable height, say ten or twelve feet, and crawl out upon a limb and hang 

 over water, for what purpose I have not ascertained, though I saw one in this 

 county either leap or fall from an extended limb of a large tree into the water, on 

 driving my horse into the water to drink. He appeared quite agitated, and es- 

 caped in the water, notwithstanding all my efforts to take him. I took one of these 

 snakes in Stratford recently, endeavoring to swallow the Rana halecina. He had 

 seized the frog at right angles between the fore and hind leg; the frog appeared 

 perfectly quiet, and a blow from a stick, on the snake, released him. 



