JONES ■ 



ON REPTILIA or NOYA SCOTIA. 121 



the ground, and the snake getting more and more mto his maw, the 

 toad's back covered with blood and froth, and the poor captive 

 panting hard. The snake then gradually drew in the distended 

 body of the toad until it reached the head, when, with much 

 apparent trouble, it managed to draw in the fore legs and head. 

 The whole scene occupied about twenty minutes, and was extreme- 

 ly disgusting to witness. The most curious part of the affair 

 occurred at the last, when the poor toad with open eyes gradually 

 receded from vieAv down the throat of the snake. > 



It is apparently a good s\vimmer, for the Rev. John Ambrose 

 informs me that it has been observed a mile or more from the shore 

 at the entrance to St. Margaret's Bay, making for the islands 

 outside. 



When greatly ii'ritated by stopping its course repeatedly Avith a 

 stick, this snake will turn about and show fight, making rapid and 

 repeated bites. It is however perfectly harmless, and its bite would 

 entail no greater suffering upon any healthy person than that of a 

 kitten. It is said that this snake has repeatedly been seen to swal- 

 low its young in time of clanger, and from evidence received from 

 reliable authority, I have hardly a doubt but that it possesses this 

 curious habit. 



This snake appears to be distributed over the greater portion of 

 the North American continent east of the Mississippi, and has been 

 found at an altitude of two thousand feet above the sea in* the 

 State of New York. It occurs abundantly in Canada, where it is 

 said to be particularly common in the rocky limestone districts. 

 In Massachusetts it is the most common snake, and it has been 

 observed as far north as Lake Winnipeg by Sir John Richardson. 



Coluher occipito-maculatus — Storer... .Spotted-neck Snake. 



Ischnognatkus occipito-maculatus — Gunther, Cat. of Col. 



Snakes, p. 81. 

 I. DeKayii — -Dunn & Bibr. vii., p. 509. 

 Coluber venustus — Hallon, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. 



iii., p. 274. 

 Storeria occipito-maculata, — Bau'd & Girard, Cat. p. 137. 

 It appears that this small species was entirely overlooked by 

 North American collectors until within a comparatively recent 



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