54 Notes on the Habits of sum, Western Snakes. [Jul) 



NOTES ON THE HABITS OF SOME WESTERN 

 SNAKES. 



WHILE connected with the Geological Survey of the Western 

 States, I had the opportunity to note some peculiar, and as 

 far as I am aware, unreported habits of some of the snakes. 



Several of the summers I passed upon the plains were preceded 

 by rainy springs, swelling to unusual height the small streams 

 which became inhabited by small fishes. During the drought of 

 hot summers, the receding waters left the fishes in shallow pools 

 within creek beds, an easy prey to their numerous enemies. 



The mid-day heat caused numbers of snakes to seek shelter 

 from the sun, and the garter snake ( Eutumia radix) in particular, 

 chose water at this time. Here the fishes, unable to escape or 

 find deep cool water, were unwilling co-lenants with the snakes. 

 The latter are fond of fish, and would devour great numbers of 

 the smaller ones, chasing them from one part of the shallow pool 

 to another. When the 'fishes were in water too shallow to swim 

 in, or were struggling upon the sand, they would be seized by 

 the snakes, who would feed upon them until unable to contain 

 more. The snakes would follow the fish through the water, 

 diving and remaining submerged some time. I did not observe 

 them swallow air (see Am. Nat., Jan., 1880). Snakes evince 

 more than ordinary energy and sagacity in capturing fish ; half a 

 dozen will congregate within a small pool, all acting in concert. 



Mr. J. L. Wortman, who had charge of a scientific party last 

 year, informs me that while fishing one day he caught num- 

 bers of chub (Cyprinidce) and, throwing them on the sand, was 

 surprised to six- that but few remained. While .mietly continuing 



skill. Upon opening the snakes one was found to contain six 

 fishes. The head-waters of the Smoky Hill and Big Horn rivers 

 abound in this aquatic Eutcenia radix. 



In Texas, while fishing with a common hook and line, baited 

 with a small scale fish, I had the rare fortune to hook what at 

 first seemed to be an eel, but proved a " cotton mouth " snake 

 (A ncistrodon piscivoras) . 



