rl38 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



GRASS SNAKES 



Liopeltis vernalis (DeKay) 

 Grass snake 



Another of the green snakes is also quite common in Rockland. 

 This is the little " grass snake." It is very similar to the bush- 

 climber, but is much smaller, more stout and of a more energetic 

 disposition. The eyes are even larger that in C. aestivus, the 

 general color is of a deeper tint, and the head is longer, on a 

 more slender neck. The species is not easily tamed, like the 

 green snake. 



This little snake loves grassy fields and is often seen in apple 

 orchards and around barns. It does no climbing, like the pre- 

 ceding species. It does not seem to abound in this county, and 

 is not common in New Jersey, near by. Both species eat flies 

 and other insects and are a real boon to the farmer, who, never- 

 theless, ruthlessly murders them at sight. In Nova Scotia, on 

 about lat. 44° 30', this snake is common along the borders of the 

 numerous lakes. 



BLACK SNAKES 



Zamenis constrictor (Linn.) 



True black snake 

 This well known snake is one of the largest in the county, often 

 reaching 7 and (if reports are true) 8 feet in length. It is very 

 fond of water and swampy tracts, but is also common in grassy 

 fields and cornfields, along with the next species (Coluber 

 obsoletus). 



The black snakes often live in holes in the ground, beneath 

 bushes or stone walls. The so called " blue racer " is a variety 

 of this species, which Cope refers to Michigan ; the present species 

 has however Avell earned the same name around Nyack, both by 

 its clear blue color and its extraordinary speed. The average 

 " blue racer's " speed is marvelous, considering that it has noth- 

 ing but the ventral scales to take hold of the ground with. 



Walking along the path by the eastern branch of the Hacken- 

 sack river one day, the writer came suddenly on a nest of black 

 snakes, all of large size, coiled up in a heap. There seemed to 

 be a dozen. Three of the largest showed fight at once, rearing 



