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Green Snake, "grass Snake"
Colouration.—Uniform, pale (leaf) green above; greenish-white beneath. The lips show the pale tint of the undersurface. Alcoholic specimens fade to a greenish-gray or blue.
Dimensions.—This is a smaller species than the keeled-scaled green snake and rarely attains a length of over twenty inches. The measurements of an average-sized specimen are given:
Distribution.—Southeastern Canada, southward to the Gulf of Mexico. The species extends westward to New Mexico. It does not appear to be abundant in the Southern or Western States, but is a common reptile in Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York.
Habits.—Extended observations prove this species to be quite insectivorous in habits, a characteristic common among the lizards, but rare with the snakes, and especially among species that do not lead a burrowing life. Of the many specimens of the Green Snake that have come under the writer's attention none could be induced to eat anything but insects, although such food as salamanders, very small toads and frogs, earthworms and other creatures readily devoured by other species of snakes of similar size, were offered. Moreover, an examination of the stomachs of a large series of alcoholic specimens that have been caught wild, invariably revealed the presence of insects.
Distribution.—Texas to California.
Distribution.—Florida.
Distribution.—North Carolina to Mississippi.
Distribution.—Duval Co., Texas.
Distribution.—Texas; Northern Mexico.
Distribution.—Texas to Utah; northern Mexico.
Distribution.—Arizona.
Distribution.—Pacific States.
This species is stouter of body than the preceding green snake, while the tail is proportionately much shorter with the majority of specimens. The scales are smooth, with a satiny lustre.
A large specimen from Long Island, N. Y., is unusual in being dark olive and dull yellow beneath.
Freshly hatched specimens are dull olive above.
Total Length . . . . . 15 1/2 inches.
Length of Tail . . . . . 5 1/4 inches.
Greatest Diameter . . . . . 1/4 inches.
Width of Head . . . . 1/4 inches.
The Green Snake will eat spiders, grasshoppers and crickets, but in preference to anything of this character will take the larvae or caterpillars of certain moths, which are common in the situations frequented by the snakes. These caterpillars are of the green, hairless kind, about an inch in length and slightly less than a quarter of an inch in thickness. Many captive specimens cannot be induced to take anything but these larvae, which, when offered, are voraciously grasped and swallowed immediately.
The majority of Green Snakes are the most gentle of serpents and will submit to the most vigorous handling, even when freshly captured, without showing the least sign of anger. Of several hundred specimens, the writer failed to note an attempt to bite except in the case of a single specimen from Long Island. It is interesting to explain that this specimen was very dark olive in colour and in decided contrast to the rich green of the greater number of specimens. It would bite repeatedly at the finger, but the minute teeth failed to produce even a scratch.
A more innocent and more dainty reptile cannot be imagined than one of these creatures, and the spectacle of a tiny green serpent beaten to death on the roadside should provoke a pity for the human individual who so "bravely" engaged in combat and succeeded in destroying with the aid of a substantial club, about twelve or fourteen inches of diminutive body that would have real difficulty in battling with a fair-sized grasshopper.
Rather open situations are generally selected by this reptile which prowls through tangled grass, or into bushes. It is sometimes found coiled among vines where its green body so blends with the colour of the stems and tendrils that the reptile may be seen only with great difficulty. Toward the latter part of the day it often crawls under flat stones that have been warmed by the sun, and when discovered in such places will dart into the surrounding grass with bewildering agility. Once among the vegetation it crawls slowly, appearing to realise that its protective colouration will elude the pursuer.
It is under these flat stones, generally close to the hedges surrounding a meadow, that the eggs may be found. These are considerably more elongated than of the majority of oviparous snakes, and are covered with so thin an integument that it is dented upon the slightest pressure of the finger. About a dozen eggs seem to be the maximum number deposited.
On August 14th the writer found four eggs of a Green Snake, on a high ledge, in Sullivan County, New York. The eggs were under a flat stone and had been deposited in a hollow scooped out of the disintegrated lichens and moss, by the female. The stone was very warm, being exposed to the full rays of the sun for the greater part of the day. These eggs were very elongate, and adhesive in pairs. Their covering was so translucent that the dark embryo (nearly ready to hatch) could readily be discerned. The young snakes emerged on the 25th of August. They were 4 5/8 inches in length, very dark olive above and greenish white beneath. About an hour after birth each shed a very thin skin, after which process they were very lively and prowled into every crevice of their cage.