230 
BLUEFIELDS. 
and letting go with the tail last of all. The mode 
in which Colubrine Snakes (and perhaps others) 
mount trees is, I think, misunderstood. We see 
them represented in engravings, as encircling the 
trunk or branches in spiral coils, hut this, though 
it may do very well for stuffed specimens in a mu- 
seum, is not the way in which a living Snake mounts 
a tree. It simply glides up with the whole body 
extended in a straight line, doubtless clinging by 
means of the tips of the expanded ribs, as we can 
see that the body is perceptibly dilated and flattened. 
In fact a Snake finds no more difficulty in passing 
swiftly up the vertical trunk of a tree, than in 
gliding over the ground. I have been astonished 
to remark how slight a contact is sufficient for it to 
maintain its hold. The Black Snake will allow the 
greatest part of its body to hang down in the air, 
and thus remain still, while little more than the tail 
maintains its position by clinging (straight, not spi- 
rally, and not half round it, but longitudinally along 
it) to the upper surface of a branch : and it will 
often pass freely and gracefully from one branch 
to another at a considerable interval, projecting its 
head and body with the utmost ease across the in- 
terval. The motions of a Snake in a tree are beauti- 
fully easy and free, and convey the impression that 
the reptile feels quite at home among the branches. 
This is a bold and fierce Snake, often turning 
when struck and approaching its assailant, with the 
head erected in a most menacing attitude ; the mouth 
opened to its widest extent. I have seen one, thus 
endeavouring to attack, when foiled by being struck, 
