SNAKES AND BOTANIZING. 67 



bery and weeds growing by the fences, a snake 

 might easily enjoy life in our garden. 



' ' One very warm day in May of this year the 

 snake was discovered — ^a young and harmless 

 house-snake which had adopted us. It was four- 

 teen inches in length and not much larger than 

 a lead pencil in girth. Alas! for the general 

 prejudice against snakes, he was despatched." 



' ' Of course. The right thing to do. But, as 

 I was saying, in your search for flowers in the 

 woods and long grass and weeds, surely there 

 are snakes?" 



"Yes; but I never think of them. I am not 

 looking for them, or I presume I could see some. 

 At this farm, where we will spend a few hours, 

 I have been many times. I have ranged through 

 its swamps, wandered along its stream, and 

 climbed its hills. Every inch of its woods seems 

 familiar to me, and once a ground-hog tumbled 

 out of my way into its hole ; but a snake I have 

 not seen. I know that the stories told of its 

 numerous snakes must be true. Here we are." 



As we passed down the lane leading to the 

 house, lying upon a bank was the long, dark 

 body of the snake the ploughman had killed. 

 Further on, at the back of the house, hung the 

 limp length of a five-foot snake, as a warning 

 to all chicken-stealing ophidians. My compan- 

 ion groaned with disgust and fear. 



