82 GILPIN ON THE SERPENTS OF NOVA SCOTIA. 



we find them in high elevations. The larger specimens attain 

 about eighteen inches in length, according to my own observations, 

 by others much more, and agree with Baird, and Gerard's descrip- 

 tion ; light ashy, or dark reddish brown on back greenish white 

 beneath with three pale stripes from head to tail, on the back and 

 sides, with numerous irregular brown spots. The brown in some 

 runs so reddish as to suppose a new species. They feed upon living 

 food, toads, birds, butterflies, (on Mr. Downs' authority,) and 

 worms. I have frequently seen them swallowing toads, and what 

 struck me more, was the utter indifference of the toad, contrasted 

 with the eager ferocity of the snake. I think the toad becomes 

 benumbed, when rescued will not get out of the way, whilst the 

 snake will fight a fair battle to retain his prize, charging you boldly 

 again and again, that is if you forbear to break with yonr riding 

 whip his beautiful coils, and be content to spoil him of his dinner 

 alone, without taking his life. I found two toads in one that was 

 coiled on the top of a low tree on a rocky islet in the great Fairy 

 lake. His huge size arrested my attention and I had him shot. 

 This fact is opposed to the ordinary belief that they become torpid 

 after swallowing their food until it is digested, as he evidently 

 had swallowed the two after a short interval. On the tenth of 

 August I captured one at Bedford Basin. He bit the glove cover- 

 ing my hand so that I could feel his teeth gritting upon the buck- 

 skin. I transferred him to a glass case about two feet square, 

 floored with moss. He made great efforts to escape, heaving him- 

 self upright, nearly his full length — about eighteen inches — upon 

 the smooth glass. I have no doubt on a roughened surface he 

 could have moved vertically. He could raise his body six inches 

 vertically without support. His usual attitude was in a coil, his 

 head raised two or three inches, his ever vigilant eye open and 

 bright, and his forked tongue menacing night and day. Yet certain 

 noises or odors seemed to have more effect upon him than objects of 

 sight. In feeding he tracked the earth worms by the slime they 

 left upon the glass, and pounced upon them with a sudden fury that 

 made one thrill. One day he eat twelve earthworms, and after 

 that he allowed them to crawl over him. He took no notice of 



