12 



THE PINE SNAKE OF NEW JERSEY. 



these parts exuviation is much slower than when the larger 

 have play. This rib action produced a singular automatic l 

 ment of the serpent on the floor of its box, and even acros 

 folds of its companion, which kept as still as if it were dead, 

 movement of the snake's body, as the skin did not follow it, 

 the creature the appearance of crawling out of a tubular case, 

 skin of course was presented inside out, so that every scale sb 

 its concave side, which was true also of the scales of the 



length. This, for plain reasons, was not inverted. The 

 process of exuviation, allowing live minutes for the part tha 

 not witness, took thirty-five minutes. 



There was a great contrast of color and brilliancy betwe 

 old and the new attire ! Unversed in serpentine psycholo 

 are not able to say what went on in the caput of this cr 

 which the adage has made so famous for wisdom. With t 

 of such a rich creamy glow, and such adornings of brow 

 chocolate, and chestnut, what blame if it w ere proud of its r 

 tire? She certainly seemed to show her feelings in a felin 

 for she rubbed her head, with a seeming cat-like comph 

 against that of her companion. As for him, poor fellow, 1 

 been ten weeks trying to get his trousers off, and after this r 

 time, had only succeeded in tearing the garment. He seem. 



tight boots, retired to allow his mind time to regain its com] 

 The truth told, it took Mr. Pituophis exactly three month* 

 on" his pantaloons. It would only come off in bits at a tin 

 by painful friction, which, as shown above, is not the norm 

 of a snake's undressing. Indeed, it looked as if a valet 

 have to be provided. But on the 13th of October, a warm 



clear liquid. inis wouiu ma 

 the box, about as large as one 

 immediately voided a heap < 



