230 NATURE SKETCHES IN TEMPERATE AMERICA 



into the orchard nearby, giving me an opportunity to make an 

 investigation. On the grassy ground I found a full-grown blue 

 racer in the attitude I have drawn him iri the illustration. He 

 had been the cause of all the commotion among the birds. 

 There was plainly a community of interest exhibited here 

 against a common enemy. It is interesting to note that the 

 brown thrasher had not been seen thereabouts before, though 

 I had taken careful observations of birds, covering a period of 

 three weeks, in the neighborhood. Only such an exciting event 

 as that above related brought hini into the foreground. 



The blue racer allowed me to approach quite near, scarcely 

 displaying the slightest alarm at my presence. In trying to 

 catch him he dodged repeatedly, making several gymnastic 

 turns as he went between my legs. Finally he glided off grace- 

 fully into some dense vines of bittersweet. It is almost needless 

 to state that this species is a harmless snake to man. Old 

 individuals can outrun an ordinary man for a short distance. 

 I once observed a large blue racer at Dune Park, Indiana, 

 which was sinuously stealing its way near a fledgling song 

 sparrow in some low bushes. As I came near the scene of action, 

 the bird was found so paralyzed by fright that it was "glued" 

 to the branch on which it was perched. The snake had its 

 head elevated about eight inches above the ground and was 

 within striking distance of the bird when I discovered the 

 latter's predicament and came to its rescue. 



Here again the snake was so intently preoccupied that it 

 was but little frightened at my approach and lingered there- 

 abouts for some time after I had removed the bird to a place 

 of safety. I have never seen the blue racer actually devour 

 a bird, but I have seen young snakes catch frogs. On one 

 occasion when coming along a main wagon road ' I saw ahead 

 of me a frog jumping rapidly across the road, raising the dust 

 as it went. Closely pursuing it was a haK-grown blue racer, 

 which seized it in its jaws just as the frog had reached the other 

 side of the roadway. Then, getting a second hold on its prey, 

 the snake, raising its victim about six inches from the ground, 

 started back across the road, finally seeking the cover of the 

 herbage. 



'Millers, Indiana, September 21, 1905. 



