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We have records of numerous examples seen, the earliest elate being May 

 8 and the latest August 29. It is probably most abundant in June. Defi- 

 nite dates are as follows : In 1899, one seen July 11 and another August 

 29. In 1900, one seen July 13, 17 and 20, all on the west side ; one seen 

 on east side of Lost Lake August 1, one at Fish Commission Station 

 August 7, and one near the Inlet August 16. In 1901, one in Culver Bay 

 May 3 ; a large one on west side May 6, one near Farrar's May 23 ; a 

 large one on Long Point June 2; another on Long Point June 16; one at 

 Outlet June 19 ; one 3 feet 9 inches long on west side June 22 ; and a small 

 one on Long Point June 24. In 1906 a large one found dead on Long 

 Point August 15, a small one in Green's marsh, one at the Outlet and one on 

 Yellow River August 16. During the summer of 1906, after the dam was 

 thrown across the Outlet at the railroad bridge the water in the Outlet 

 below the dam became very low, and water snakes could be found along 

 the edge of the water almost any time a visit was made to that place. 



This is the species more often seen in the water than any other. It 

 delights to lie coiled on some old log or root in or at the edge of the 

 stream, or on the timbers at the dam or the logs of drift material. It 

 inhabits rather open woodland ponds in great abundance, and in such 

 places they often collect several together on projecting logs. In such 

 situations it lies in wait, basking in the sun, making short excursions now 

 and then into the water after fish or frog, or dropping quietly into the 

 stream when disturbed by the near approach of any one. Then it hides 

 under the bank, only its head being out of the water, or else swims swiftly 

 away and out of reach. While swimming it usually keeps its head above 

 water, but when closely pressed or annoyed it will go entirely under and 

 swim along on or near the bottom. 



The water-snake is frequently called "moccasin*' or "redbelly" and is 

 by many believed to be deadly poisonous. Its bite is, however, entirely 

 harmless, and it is very different from the venomous "water-moccasin" 

 or cotton-mouth of the south. 



Although the water-snake is non-venomous, it has very little to com- 

 mend it. It is repulsive in appearance and spiteful in temper. It is more 

 destructive to fishes than any other of our snakes ; indeed, it seems to 

 subsist chiefly on fish. It will eat any kind of fish it can catch, though 

 it doubtless prefers the soft-rayed species, such as the minnows, suckers 

 and the like ; it surely finds them easier to handle than the spiny-rayed 

 species such as the bass and perch. We have found many different fishes 



