44 



^ 



The young are grayish olive, with short livid black blotches 

 or spots. This is the common black snake of New England, 

 and is found mainly in regions more or less wooded. Accord- 

 ing to Professor Surface it feeds to some extent on large insects, 

 but more on other insectivorous creatures, such as small snakes, 

 frogs and birds, but it is believed to be a destroyer of the 

 rattlesnake and the copperhead. The following diagram gives 

 an idea of its food. It is not a creature for the bird protection- 

 ist to protect. 



Next to the black snake, the house, milk or chicken snake 



Diagram showing the percentages of food items of milk or house snake (Lampropeltis doliatus 

 triangulus) for the year: 48H per cent field mice (Microtus pennsylvanicua); 20 per cent 

 undetermined mice; 11 per cent unidentified mammals; 6 per cent snakes; 5H per cent 

 birds; 3 per cent slugs; 3 per cent jumping mice; 3 per cent undetermined vertebrates. 

 (After Surface.) 



(Lampropeltis doliatus triangulus), sometimes called in Massa- 

 chusetts the spotted or checkered adder, is believed to be most 

 destructive to birds. This is a rather slim, active serpent and 

 may be distinguished from the other species by a series of 

 small square or rectangular black blotches on its light under 

 parts. It is so active and so proficient in climbing that it can 

 go almost anywhere that it is possible for a snake to go. Mrs. 

 Touissant describes how she saw a snake, apparently of this 

 species, climb up the side of a building, hook its chin over the 



