A MUCH MALIGNED REPTILE. 
103 
mous but filled its breath with noxious qualities. The stories 
heard in boyhood concerning its poisonous powers made me 
ready to give it a wide berth whenever we should chance to 
meet, although my curiosity longed to be satisfied. 
Lately a specimen was found near by and given to me. It is 
about two feet long, of a dark brown color, nearly black, with 
irregular darker blotches along the back which are hardly 
noticeable, except near the tail. Most specimens are lighter in 
color, when the blotches show more plainly. The under side 
is gray with numerous black dots along the sides. The nose is 
a peculiar feature. The rostral plate is pointed and turns up- 
slightly, somewhat like a hog’s snout. The same plate is keeled 
above, making it look a little like a kernel of buckwheat. 
The snake is not only harmless but is also perfectly gentle. 
Though it is ferocious in appearance its ferocity is clearly a 
case of mimicry. So completely does it imitate some of the 
poisonous serpents that it is not to be wondered at that those 
who have never tested its gentleness should give it an evil repu¬ 
tation. It cannot be made to bite and has no fangs to use if it 
should try. The specimen I have has manifested no disposi¬ 
tion as yet to eat, but has attempted to burrow in the sand in 
the cage, probably with intention to hibernate. 
Though few in numbers so far north, it is probable that they 
do at least as much good as harm and help keep the balance of 
nature until the lords of creation meet them and kill them sim¬ 
ply because they are snakes. 
There is another ophidian that is also much slandered and 
abused. It is the milk snake or checkered adder which is per¬ 
fectly harmless, all reports to the contrary notwithstanding, 
although he will right if interfered with, A short time ago a 
neighbor found one in front of his barn and of course killed it. 
Then he put it in a paper bag and sent it to me. It had just 
dined and an examination revealed two young mice in the 
stomach. It also revealed the cruel heedlessness of us supe¬ 
rior beings. The pretty, shy, harmless milk snakes come to 
our sheds and barns to catch mice and we promptly kill them. 
