THE GOPHER SNAKE 



87 



laid hold of it and picked it up, which the serpent did not 

 resent in the least, even when it was passed from hand to 

 hand for close examination. When finally released, it leisurely 

 crawled under the house, quite as if nothing had happened. 



This is one of the best of all serpents to keep in captivity. 

 It is next in hardiness to the water moccasin. It is an om- 

 nivorous feeder, and, 

 named in the order of 

 choice, its food con- 

 sists of rats, mice, 

 birds, snakes, eggs, 

 frogs, fish, lizards and 

 even raw meat ! (R. L. 

 Ditmars.) 



The Gopher Snake 

 is not a constrictor, it 

 does not climb fre- 

 quently, and does not 



care for water except to drink. It is strictly a warm-country 

 species, and inhabits our Gulf states, from Florida to Mat- 

 amoras, Mexico. 



The typical Pine Snake^ inhabits the sandy pine woods 

 along the Atlantic coast from New Jersey to Florida; but 

 other species of this genus are found throughout nearly every 

 other portion of the United States except New England. 



This species is quite harmless, even to other snakes, but, 

 for all that, it is a powerful constrictor. It lays eggs, and 

 feeds upon birds, small rodents and eggs. In devouring eggs 



' Pit-y-o'phis me-lan-o-leu'-cus. 



PINE SNAKE. 



