246 REPTILES OF THE WORLD 



In all conditions this snake is abundant from the 

 Atlantic to the Pacific Coast, frequenting swamps, 

 woods or high areas among rocks in the mountainous 

 regions. The species will undoubtedly survive long 

 after most other serpents have been totally exterminated 

 by the ruthless slaughter an unjust prejudice inspires. 

 Such appears probable from several conditions. First, it 

 is viviparous, bringing forth exceptionally large broods 

 of young ; secondlj^ the young feed readily upon earth- 

 worms, groAV rapidly and are cunningly secretive, gain- 

 ing a livelihood without prowling into the danger zone 

 of stone and clubs, as do the rodent-eating and actually 

 the more useful serpents. 



Adult Gai'ter Snakes feed principally upon frogs, 

 toads and earthworms — never upon warm-blooded prey. 

 A large example is a yard long and an inch in diameter 

 at the stoutest part. In confinement the species is 

 hardy, living for years. Wild specimens, if handled, 

 exude a foul-smelling secretion from glands near the 

 base of the tail. After a few days in captivity, the 

 trait entirely disappears. Examples in the writer's col- 

 lection lived for over ten years; they were reared from 

 the young, growing considerablj^ larger than the aver- 

 age wild specimen. They seemed to have real affection 

 and enjoyed being handled. During their ten years 

 of existence they were kept in the writer's study, occu- 

 pying a perfectljr plain wooden case with a glass front. 

 The entire collection of snakes was finally transferred 

 to the fine Reptile House in the New York Zoological 

 Park. Strangely enough, in spacious cages, with a pro- 

 fusion of plants and a gravel bottom, the snakes that 

 had been longest in captivltj^ began feeding indiffer- 

 ently and died within a few months. The result was 

 attributed to the moisture attending the tropical decora- 



