CLASS III. REPTILIA: ORDER 4. OPIIIDIA. 
397 
from man; wlien irritated, it brandislies its tongue in a threatening manner. It is not venomous, 
but if taken in the hand it will sometimes bite, inflicting a troublesome though not dangerous 
wound. It takes to the water readily in pursuit of its prey, and chiefly affects low marshy 
places, though it is sometimes found in elevated districts. It is often met with in great numbers, 
and sometimes in company with rattlesnakes under peat moss, at a sufficient depth to protect it 
from the frost. It passes under the various names of Green Garter-Snake^ Stone Garter^ Swamp 
Garter, Water Garter, and Striped Adder. 
There are some other species of this genus in the United States, as the Yellow-Bellied 
Snake, T. leberis, two to three feet long ; found in the Middle States ; and the Small Bbowk 
Snake, T. De Kayi, about fifteen inches long, of a reddish-brown color, and living in or near 
water ; found in Massachusetts and Louisiana. 
THE TREE-SNAKES. 
There are many serpents of very slender form, which, while living more or less on the land, 
frequently ascend trees, especially in pur- 
suit of their prey. They are generally 
nimble, harmless, and beautiful species. 
" The whole of the serpents compos- 
ing these genera live," says Mr. Bell, " in 
woods, entwining themselves among the 
branches of trees, and gliding Avith great 
rapidity and elegance from one to another. 
These habits, combined with the graceful 
slenderness of their form, the beautiful 
metallic reflection from the surface in 
some species, and the bright and change- 
able hues in others, place them among the 
most interesting of the serpent tribe. 
Their food consists of large insects, young 
birds, and so forth, which the extraordi- 
nary size of the head, the width of the 
gape, and the great dilatability of the 
neck and body, enable them to swalloAv, 
notwithstanding the small size of these 
parts in a state of rest. In a specimen in 
my possession, the length of which is four 
feet nine inches, the diameter of the neck 
is hardly two lines. When the skin is 
distended either by food or during inspira- 
tion, the scales are sejDarated from each 
other, and the skin, which is of a different 
color, becomes visible in the interstices, 
producing a curious reticulated appear- 
ance. Notwithstanding the poisonous 
mark Avas affixed by Linnseus to the only 
species of Dryinus known to him. Coluber 
mycterizans, it is well ascertained that they 
are all of them perfectly harmless ; and it is 
asserted of that species that the children are in the habit of taming and playing Avith them, twin- 
ing them round their necks and arms, and that the snakes appear pleased at being thus caressed." 
Genus DRYINUS ; Dryinus. — To this belongs the Golden Tree Snake, D. auratus, four to 
five feet long ; color yelloAvish-gray, gleaming Avith a pale golden hue, and dotted Avith Avhitish 
and black ; native of Mexico. There are several other American species. 
THE GOLDEN TREE SNAKE. 
