I8&2.] Notes on the Habits of some Western Snakes. 565 



One morning on examining a line set over night, found the pole 

 as left the previous evening, but the line drawn to shore, and my 

 curiosity was excited as to the catch. It proved to be one of 

 these snakes, coiled upon the bank, the bait, a small scale fish, 

 mashed within its mouth, and the hook well caught. Upon being 

 disturbed it at first showed fight, but took quickly to water, and was 

 landed with the same effort as a fish or eel of equal size, i. e., 

 about twenty-six inches in length. That season I caught three 

 of these venomous snakes in this way while fishing with a hook 

 and line. By Mexicans living on the banks of the San Antonio 

 and San Maguil rivers, I was informed that it is no unusual thing 

 to catch cotton mouths while fishing. 



Running short of bait one day, I caught several large toads 

 and tied them together by their hind legs. On nearing the water 

 a snake started to cross the stream; having nothing else to 

 throw at it, I gave the toads a toss in front, hoping to change its 

 course; the snake seized quickly on the struggling mass. Toads 

 exhibit great fear of snakes ; it will afford considerable amuse- 

 ment to take a toy or stuffed snake skin and trail it towards one ; 

 it will make a strange cry, at the same time making vigorous 

 jnmps to escape. Frogs act in the same way, though they are 

 not so readily captured. 



Nearly all animals show unmistakable signs of fear when con- 

 fronted by a snake, though many that do net prey upon them 

 take drlight in destroying them, as do the deer family, etc. 



Prairie dogs ( Cynomys ludovicianus) seem to have a most in- 

 tense dread of rattlesnakes ( Crotalus confluentus). This little 

 animal dreads not only its venomous bite, but more the loss of 

 its young, which serve as food for these snakes that enter 

 their burrows, take possession and drive them from their homes. 

 Where does one find a prairie dog town but that it is teeming 

 with snakes and the strange little owl ( Speotyto cumcularia) that 

 " ducks " to passers in ludicrous solemnity ? These, though bil- 

 leted upon the dogs do not constitute a "happy family." The 

 °wls, though they generally occupy an abandoned hole or bur- 

 row, destroy the young dogs. Nor do the eggs and nestlings of 

 the owls fare with any better treatment from the snakes ; between 





:\\n,i 1 



enmity. One afternoon while passing throu; 

 ' these dog towns, in Wallace county, Kansas, we heard 

 inusual noise and stir (in the town) as though they we 



