'1883.] The Copperhead. 1233 
I now came to the conclusion to capture that serpent either 
dead or alive. In looking around I could not see a stone as large 
as a hickory-nut, nor a stick nearer than forty or fifty feet distant. 
I cut one from an aspen sapling leaving it notched at the end. 
The spot where I left the ophidian, apparently as motionless as 
ever, was marked by a lot of cut horsemint, and when I returned 
the reptile had given me the slip, and without any doubt resumed 
his interrupted journey toward the swamp. 
I spent some time in looking for him on the field, and even 
started up another colubrine specimen resembling Ophibolus cleri- 
cus B. & G. (syn. Coluber eximius Holbr.), over three feet long, 
which hastily glided down the bank of the all-protecting swamp. 
The latter would prove an El Dorado to the herpetologist. 
it being near even-tide I cautiously resumed my work beside 
that swamp, but could not help thinking of Mr. Whittier’s lines 
addressed to the Amphisbzna, that 
“ Far away in the twilight time 
Of every people in every clime, 
Dragons and griffins and monsters dire, 
Born of water and air and fire, 
Or nursed like the Python in the mud 
And ooze of the old Deucalion flood, 
Crawl and wriggle and foam with rage, 
Through dusk, tradition and ballad age. 
* = * * * * 
* * * * sud 
During the remainder of the day and evening I could think of 
nothing else but that Ancistrodon. How close it permitted me 
to approach him without showing any signs to resent my famili- 
arity, although the latter was unintentional on my part! 
It is barely possible that I lacked just a few inches too far off 
for his aim, and thereby providentially escaped being str uck by 
his deadly fangs. The effect of this episode on my mind is bet- 
ter understood by the following dream, which disturbed my rest 
that night : 
I imagined myself beside a large meadow in a ducal park, 
where my father had been horticulturist-in-chief, and where in 
early youth we children used to play. All at once two gust weil 
Pents raised their heads above the grass ar i bodies 
reaching across the entire field, commenced to thrash the green 
Sward. Finally the giant ophidians grew larger and still pa 
until they appeared to vie in size with the sea-serpents of the 
