THE BLOWING VIPER . 
129 
They are found in chains containing fifteen or twenty, and are cemented together by a kind of 
glutinous substance. 
During the winter the Snake retires to some sheltered spot, where it remains until the 
warm days of spring call it again to action. The localities which it chooses for its winter 
quarters are always in some well sheltered spot, generally under the gnarled roots of ancient 
trees, under heaps of dry brushwood, or deep crevices. In these places the Snakes will con- 
gregate in great numbers, more than a hundred having been taken from one hollow. A few 
years ago I saw a hole from which a great number of Ringed Snakes had been taken ; it was 
situated in a bank, at some depth. The color of the Ringed Snake is grayish-green above and , 
blue-black below, often mottled with deep black. Behind the head is a collar of golden yellow, 
often broken in the middle so as to look like two patches of yellow. Behind the yellow 
collar is another of black, sometimes broken in the middle also. Along the back run two rows 
of small dark spots, and a row of large, oblong spots is arranged down each side. Both the 
color and the shape of the spots are very variable. 
The length of this reptile is generally about a yard, but it sometimes attains a length of 
four feet. The female is always larger than the male. The generic title Tropidonotus is 
formed from two Greek words signifying keel-backed, and is given to these Serpents because 
the scales of the back are keeled. 
The Hog-nose Snake is so called from the odd formation of the muzzle, which is rather 
blunt, and slightly turned up at the tip, something like the snout of a hog. It generally fre- 
quents moist and marshy localities, as the edges of rivers and ponds, where it finds a plentiful 
subsistence among the toads, frogs, lizards, and insects which swarm in such spots. It is an 
inhabitant of Northern America. 
Although as harmless as our ringed Snake, and of similar dimensions, so that it need 
not be feared on account of its bodily strength, the Hog-nose Snake is rather feared by 
those who are not acquainted with its structure and habits. If it be irritated in any way, 
it assumes a most threatening attitude, coils itself like a rattlesnake, flattening its head 
after the fashion of venomous Serpents, utters a furious hiss, and strikes at the foe with, 
the rapidity of lightning. Yet all this flourish of defiance is witnout the least foundation, 
and although it might serve to intimidate the ignorant, only raises the mirth of the better 
instructed. For the Serpent does not even open its mouth when it strikes, but darts its 
closed jaws at the foe, without even inflicting the trifling wounds which might be caused 
by its small but needle-like teeth. Even if pushed about with a stick, and handled in the 
roughest manner, it never bites, but contents itself with its impotent personation of the 
venomous Snakes. 
Sometimes it tries other arts, and instead of stimulating envenomed rage, pretends to be 
dead and lies motionless, hoping to escape as soon as the enemy has gone away. So perfectly 
does it assume the semblance of death, suffering itself to be tossed about without displaying 
the least sign of life, the muscles relaxed and the body hanging loosely and heavily in the 
hand, that experienced naturalists have been repeatedly deceived, and only discovered the 
deception by seeing the reptile make its escape after they had left it lying apparently 
dead upon the ground. 
The color of the Hog-nose Snake is rather variable, but is generally of a darker or lighter 
brown above, with a row of large blotches of a different shade of brown running along the 
sides. Sometimes these blotches are so large, that they unite across the back and form broad 
bands. There is a dark band between the eyes. The average length of this reptile is about 
three feet. 
The species called Blowin g V iper (Heterodon platyrliyncJius), and Buckwheat-nose, is a 
most vicious appearing reptile, yet wholly harmless. Its habit of inflating its head and throat 
renders it unusually forbidding. It is common in the Middle and New England States west of 
the Connecticut River. H. simus is common in the Western States. Five other species are 
known in North America. 
Vol. UL— 17. 
