. The American natural history; a foundation of useful knowledge of the higher animals of North America. Natural history. 34G ORDERS OP REPTILES—SERPENTS species have been evolved, which are of no in- terest whatever to the general student. The Red-Bellied Water-Snake' is a highly colored variety of the common Water-Snake that merits special attention. It is the most showy and handsome representative of an interesting group of water-snakes, comprising about ten species, all of which are harmless, but very much in evidence in small streams and other bodies of water. They bring forth their young
. The American natural history; a foundation of useful knowledge of the higher animals of North America. Natural history. 34G ORDERS OP REPTILES—SERPENTS species have been evolved, which are of no in- terest whatever to the general student. The Red-Bellied Water-Snake' is a highly colored variety of the common Water-Snake that merits special attention. It is the most showy and handsome representative of an interesting group of water-snakes, comprising about ten species, all of which are harmless, but very much in evidence in small streams and other bodies of water. They bring forth their young alive. They love to lie upon low bushes that overhang water, and bask in the sun. They are verj' picious, however, and when disturbed drop head first into the water, like a stream of oil running Ditmars took three sunfish, one catfish, about a dozen tiny suckers and a crawfish. This inter- esting fish collection had filled the serpent so full it could hold no more. The species referred to is prominently marked by its shiny red belly, and rusty-brown upper surface. It is from .3^ to 4 feet long, and hke all Water-Snakes, emits a disagreeable odor when handled. It inhabits the southern states generally, and extends north- ward into Illinois and Michigan. The Common Water-Snake- inhabits all of the Gulf states and the Mississippi valley up to Iowa. In the New England states as far up as Connecticut, and also in the southeastern states . -^r ''^-^.^v;-f?;^'.«»^^^Si^. Ne-n 'i rk 7 1 g cal Park RED-BELLIED \\ ATER-hNAKE. down. The way to catch them is with a wire noose on the end of a light pole about ten feet long. The species named above is widely known amongst the negroes of the Carolinas and other portions of the South as the Copper-Bellied '•Moccasin," and it is feared accordingly. To the negroes of South Carolina, all water-snakes are "; The Red-Bellied is held to be very deadly, and its liite is said to be "fatal" unless countera
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