86 GILPIN OX THE SERPENTS OF NOVA SCOTIA. 



of Fairy Lake, Septr. 1870, and sacrificed a small flask of whiskey 

 to preserve him. Mr. Silver of Halifax does not consider them so 

 rare, and has identified their eggs. 



Eed Bellied Snake. 

 Storeria oceipitomaculata. B. & G. 



This, like the preceding, is a small species, but more numerous, 

 frequently coming around inhabited houses. I have no notes of its 

 habits, and have never seen its eggs. 



This ends our list of Nova Scotia serpents. 



Scanty in species and in individuals, they share their scantiness 

 with the other reptilia, which, with the exception of several species 

 of frogs, are also few. The common toad is scarce, compared with 

 New England. Our situation at the extremity of a continent, 

 and almost insular position, seems the cause rather than our north- 

 ern climate. According to Agassiz, the common toad attains 

 great size on Lfke Superior, and whilst no reptiles are found in 

 Newfoundland, the opposite side of the Straits of Belle Isle are 

 vocal with frogs, according to modern travellers, which is attested 

 to by old Martin Frobisher, who relates of feeding upon them in 

 Hudson's Bay. 



As the habits of all our snakes seem alike, and what may be 

 said of one may be said of all, I have left to the last the discussion 

 of one or two subjects which may be general to all. Although 

 Cuvier long ago laid it down that snakes are oviparous, the excep- 

 tion being when the female was constrained to hold her egg beyond 

 the proper time within the ovaria, yet many writers still main- 

 tain they are ovoviparous. Of the five species in Nova Scotia, we 

 have personally identified their eggs, deposited beneath stones and 

 hatched some time after deposition. 



Leaving then this fact as settled beyond doubt, that some snakes 

 produce their young from eggs deposited in the ground, it leads to 

 another question of great physiological importance as giving to the 

 class Reptilia the highest function of protecting their young — of 

 maternal affection. The tailless batrachians, or frogs, having their 

 eggs or spawn hatched under the water, and having them in their 



