254 SNAKES, TURTLES, LIZARDS, CROCODILES 



lequin snake constitute the poisonous snakes of the United 

 States. 



By far the greater number of snakes in the United States 

 are harmless. Among these are the small green- snakes 

 that live in the grass and are known as grass snakes. The 

 large, dark brown water snake that is so abundant along 

 streams and feeds upon fishes and frogs is a common 

 snake of the eastern United States. It is an unpleasant 

 and ill-tempered but perfectly harmless snake. The pUot 

 snake is one of our largest snakes. It is lustrous black and 

 attains a length of five or six feet. The king snake, corn 

 snake, and spotted adder, all closely related to each other, 

 are rather conspicuous snakes because of their coloring 

 and are fairly common. 



Chief characteristics of the snakes. — The bodies are long, 

 cylindrical, and covered with scales. The skin is shed at in- 

 tervals. The limbs are absent or rudimentary, and the 

 mouth is very dilatable. They progress with a gliding 

 movement by means of scales on the xmder side of the 

 body. Most snakes lay eggs, but some bring forth their 

 young alive. 



Lizards 



Like the snakes, there are several species of lizards in 

 the United States, more species being found in the South 

 than in the North, and more in the West and Southwest 

 than in the eastern parts of our country. 



Blue-tailed lizard. — One of the lizards common to the 

 United States east of the Rocky Mountains is known as the 

 blue-tailed lizard, and, in some localities, as the "scorpion." 

 Above, it is a dark, glossy green, with five yellowish lines 

 running lengthwise, and the tail is usually of a brUUant blue, 



