UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 359 



The Barred Snake is a very beautiful little animal. Its general 

 colour is milk-white, marked throughout with large, oval, jet-black 

 rings. It inhabits the Carolinas. The House Snake is a native of 

 New Spain, where it is said frequently to be domesticated. The 

 Pearl Snake is also found in Mexico. Its body is of a beautiful pearl 

 colour; its head and tail are sea-green, the former marked by a red 

 spot. It is about two feet and a half long. 



The Black Snake is one of the most common snakes of the United 

 States, it is very large, sometimes attaining to the length of sis 

 feet. They are entirely of a shining black colour. They feed upon 

 rats, mice, moles, &c and are very useful in destroying these vermin. 

 They move along the grass, or dry leaves, with great rapidity ; are 

 noted for robbing birds nests; and many strange stories are told of 

 their powers of fascination over squirrels, small birds, 8cc. which it 

 is said they can attract from the tops of the tallest trees. The mode 

 pursued by the Crotalus Horridus, and Black Snake, in fighting, is 

 curious. Each one entwines his tail round a shrub, and both rising, 

 they dart at each other, endeavouring to throw their heads round the 

 neck of their antagonist ; the one that succeeds pulls with great vio- 

 lence, and endeavours to drag the other down to the ground. In this 

 struggle they frequently loose their holds, which they again resume 

 and proceed as before. A person who was an eye-witness to such a 

 combat, s>aw the Rattle Snake completely conquered and dragged into 

 the water. 



The Black Viper is one of the most venomous of the coluber genus. 

 It is very thick in proportion to its length, which is about eighteen 

 inches. It is slow in its motions, and, when irritated, dilates its na- 

 turally large head to a surprising width ; threatening at the same 

 time with a horrid hiss, whence it has been peculiarly denominated 

 the hissing snake. Its fangs are large, and it is said to be as danger- 

 ous as the rattle-snake. The Green Snake is common in many parts 

 of North America. It is of a beautiful grass-green colour, with a 

 bright yellow line extending on each side from head to tail. It is 

 generally found on trees, is very active, and feeds on insects. 



The Coach-whip. Snake is very long and slender ; its length being 

 from four to seven feet. Its colour is a chocolate-brown, varied with 

 black and white. It is very active in its motions, and perfectly inno- 

 cent. The Indians believe it can cut a man in two with a jerk of its 

 tail. The Ribbon Snake resembles the Green Snake in its manners. 

 It is smaller. Its general colour is brown above, with three longitu- 

 dinal bluish-green stripes. The Black and Red Snake is the smallest 

 of the serpent kind. It is not larger than an earth worm. The head 

 and back are of a glossy jet black, with a white collar round the neck. 

 The head is rather large, and covered with scales; belly red, eyes 

 flame coloured. It is a rare species, a native of Pennsylvania, where 

 it inhabits crevices of rocks, old walls, Sec. and feeds on insects. The 

 Mbccagbt Snake inhabits the swamps and low grounds of the southern 

 .nates. It grows to the length of five feet, and is said to be very ve- 

 nomous. 



" The Glass Snake has a very small head ; the upper part of its 

 .'- v is of a colour blended brown and green, most regularly and ele- 

 gantly spotted with yellow. Its skin is very smooth and shining, with 

 small scales, more closely connected than those of other serpents, and 

 of a different structure. A small blow with a stick will separate the 

 ; not only at the place struck, but at two or three other places. 



