254 SNAKES, TUR'l'LES, LIZAKDS, CK( ICODLLES 



lequin snake constitute tlie poisonous snakes of tlie United 

 States. 



By far the greater number of snakes in the United States 

 are harmless. Among these aie the small gi'een snakes 

 that live in the grass and aie knowir as grass snakes. The 

 large, ilark brown water snake that is so abvmdant along 

 streams and feeds upon fislies and frogs is a common 

 snake of the eastern United States. It is an impleasant 

 and ill-tempered but perfeilly liarmless snake. The pilot 

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

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

 snake, and si)otted adder, all closely I'clated to each other, 

 are rather conspicuous snakes Ijecanse of then' coloring 

 and are fairlj? common. 



Chief characteristics of the snakes. — The l)odies are long, 

 cylindiical, and C(_)vered with scales. The skin is shed at in- 

 tervals. The limbs ai'c al)sent or rudimentary, and the 

 mouth is very dilatable. Tlie}' progress ^^'ith a gliding 

 movement by means of scales on the imder 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 fomid in the South 

 than in the North, and more in the AVest anil Snuthwest 

 than in Ihe east<Mii pai'ts of ouj- counti'y. 



Blue-tailed lizard. — One of llie lizaids conmion to the 

 Ignited States easi of the Rock}- l\hnnilains is known as the 

 blue-tailed lizarik a,n<k in some localities, as the "scorpion." 

 y^b(l^'e, il is ;i dark, glos.s}- green, with five yellowisli lines 

 running lengtliwise, and the tnil is usually of a i)rilliantblue, 



