THE BLOWING VIPER. 129 



They are found in chains containing fifteen or twenty, and are cemented together by a kind of 

 glutinous substance. 



During the winter the Snake retires to some sheltered spot, where it remains until the 

 warm days of spring call it again to action. The localities which it chooses for its winter 

 quarters are always in some well sheltered spot, generally under the gnarled roots of ancient 

 trees, under heaps of dry brushwood, or deep crevices. Tu these places the Snakes will con- 

 gregate in great numbers, more than a hundred having been taken from one hollow. A few 

 years ago I saw a hole from which a great number of Ringed Snakes had been taken ; it was 

 situated in a bank, at some depth. The color of the Ringed Snake is grayish-green above and 

 blue-black below, often mottled with deep black. Behind the head is a collar of golden yellow, 

 often broken in the middle so as to look like two patches of yellow. Behind the yellow 

 collar is another of black, sometimes broken in the middle also. Along the back run two rows 

 of small dark spots, and a row of large, oblong spots is arranged down each side. Both the- 

 color and the shape of the spots are very variable. 



The length of this reptile is generally about a yard, but it sometimes attains a length of 

 four feet. . The female is always larger than the male. The generic title Tropidonotus is 

 formed from two Greek words signifying keel-backed, and is given to these Serpents because 

 the scales of the back are keeled. 



The Hog-nose Snake is so called from the odd formation of the muzzle, which is rather 

 blunt, and slightly turned up at the tip, something like the snout of a hog. It generally fre- 

 quents moist and marshy localities, as the edges of rivers and ponds, where it finds a plentiful 

 subsistence among the toads, frogs, lizards, and insects which swarm in such spots. It is an 

 inhabitant of Northern America. 



Although as harmless as our ringed Snake, and of similar dimensions, so that it need 

 not be feared on account of its bodily strength, the Hog-nose Snake is rather feared by 

 those who are not acquainted with its structure and habits. If it be irritated in any way, 

 it assumes a most threatening attitude, coils itself like a rattlesnake, flattening its head 

 after the fashion of venomous Serpents, utters a furious hiss, and strikes at the foe with 

 the rapidity of lightning. Yet all this flourish of defiance is without the least foundation, 

 and although it might serve to intimidate the ignorant, only raises the mirth of the better 

 instructed. For the Serpent does not even open its mouth when it strikes, but darts its 

 closed jaws at the foe, without even inflicting the trifling wounds which might be caused 

 by its small but needle-like teeth. Even if pushed about with a stick, and handled in the 

 roughest manner, it never bites, but contents itself with its impotent personation of the 

 venomous Snakes. 



Sometimes it tries other arts, and instead of stimulating envenomed rage, pretends to be 

 dead and lies motionless, hoping to escape as soon as the enemy has gone away. So perfectly 

 does it assume the semblance of death, suffering itself to be tossed about without displaying 

 the least sign of life, the muscles relaxed and the body hanging loosely and heavily in the 

 hand, that experienced naturalists have been repeatedly deceived, and only discovered the 

 deception by seeing the reptile make its escape after they had left it lying apparently- 

 dead upon the ground. 



The color of the Hog-nose Snake is rather variable, but is generally of a darker or lighter 

 brown above, with a row of large blotches of a different shade of brown running along the 

 sides. Sometimes these blotches are so large, that they unite across the back and form broad 

 bands. There is a dark band between the eyes. The average length of this reptile is about 

 three feet. 



The species called Blowing Viper {Heterodon platyrhynchus), and Buckwheat-nose, is a 

 most vicious appearing reptile, yet wholly harmless. Its habit of inflating its head and throat 

 renders it unusually forbidding. Tt is common in the Middle and New England States west of 

 the Connecticut River. H. simus is common in the Western States. Five other species are 

 known in North America. 



Vol. m.— 17. 



