Connecticut western news., 1910-07-21
Interesting Facts Regard ing the Common Snakes Found in Canaan and
 Vicinity.
By the Snake Editor.

|
 
 | One of the most interesting studies in nature is the snake and its habits, and yet it is subject on which the majority of people are densely ignorant This is largely because 80 many look with hor- TOT upon any species of snake. and to the majority of people all snakes are poisonous As a result of this ignorance there is constant war between mankind and the snake and oftimes serious mis- takes are made by the farmers in allow ing their antipathy to get the best of good judgment in indiscriminately kill ing snakes, because many really valuable helpers are thus ruthlessly slaughtered Having been much interested in the habits and life of serpents and having handled many. of them and raised them and watched their methods of life, I have found it an interesting study. It is my purpose in this nature column to sketch I from time to time some of the habits of reptiles, ,as have seen and know them. 1 ne f7arTnIeSS NarleTf There is a snake quite common, yet everybody seems to fear it, although it is quite harmless, and that is the Hog. nosed snake many know it as the ''Flat- headed Adder.'' Others call it the Spreading Adder" and they shun it as though it were the most venemous ot serpents.
 Its color is generally yellowish brown, with dark brown or black irregular cross bands. Some specimens show brilliant shades of yellow and red others are entirely black Its body is stout and it's scales are keeled. Annoy it and i'm. ediately it fiatters it's head and misses spitefully and loudly. Rarely does it attempt to bite Should it bite it is not venemous and you need not fear it. Ii lives largely on toads. Garter Snakes
 The most common of serpents is the Garter snake In color it is usually dark brown or black and running length wise of the body are three yellowish stripes; along the side are numerous white or greenish spots. Its scales are strongly keeled. The colors vary. Some are spotted between strips. All are harmless. It brings forth it's young alive often 50 in brood. The young feed or earth worms and grow fast. Eveu when mature they never devour birds They feed on frogs and toads.
 The Common Water Snake x.
 The water snake is common neal ponds and streams all about Canaan and Litchtield County as well as other sec tions of New England. It feeds on fishes, frogs and toads. It brings forth it's young alive, often 40 at litter.
 The impression that this snake is ven emous is not correct. It is harmless I strongly keeled scales the color is brow1 with broad, ,irregu lar cross bands of red dish brown, which shows more distinctly on the sides. The underside is yellow ish white, brightly marked with rec spots or blotches. In the young the color is gray with black cross bands standing out very distinct.
 The adult snake is often four feet Ions with diameter of two inches, although from 2H to 3 feet is the usual length It swims readily under water or on toI and may often be seen curled up on Iogs or brush heaps by the river bank or lak, , sides.
 The milk" snake, sometimes called cheokered ladder, ,'-is of great value tC the farmer. It never steals Emilk iron . the COWS, and the reason why it SC , consistently haunts the neighborhood o the barns is to prey upon the small in jurious mammals that collect in sucl places, and which constantly elude tht traps of the farmer, who chafes unde the constant annoyance of finding hi
 grain sacks being gnawed full of holes
 and his fodder riddled by mice, vole
 and rats.
 While the poisonous snakes are als constant distroyers of rodents, and as signed to the scheme of Nature for som specific purpose, it is of course impera
 tive, owing to the advance of civilization
 and the danger man is exposed to il
 coming in contact with them, that the-
 must go. The senseless slaughter O. the harmless snakes, however, should b as effectively stopped as the wanton kill ing of birds.
 In the United States the chief enemie , of the larger snakes in the wilds, ar t eagles, hawks and owls. In certail 7 areas adjacent to cultivated regions f domestic swine are destroying all kind I of reptiles, es,-particularly the usefu
 species which is not part of Nature ; plan. The natural enemies of tn ! smaller snakes (the mouse eating species) : are skunks, weasels, ottars and foxes The raccoon is also @ snake-eater.