USA > Vermont > History of Vermont, natural, civil, and statistical, in three parts, with a new map of the state, and 200 engravings > Part 21
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THE GUINEA HEN, Numida meleagris. The Guinea Hen was originally from Af- rica. Its slate colored plumage is every- where springled with small round white spots. In its wild state it lives in floeks, in marshes.
THE DOVE. Our common Dove is said to be descended from the Rock Dove, Columba liviu.
The three last are kept only in small numbers, as a matter of curiosity.
The following table contains the esti- mated value of Poultry in the several counties in this state, according to the re- turns of the census of 1840.
Addison Co., $8,637 ĮOrange,
$14,395
Bennington,
9,414 |Chileans, 4,269
Caledonia,
10,029 Rutland, 13,092
Chittenden,
8,014 Washington,
15,840
Essex,
1,744 Windham,
13,854
Franklin,
5,912 Windsor,
20,313
Grund Isle,
1,873
Lamoille,
4,192| Total value, $131,578
CHAPTER IV.
REPTILES OF VERMONT.
Preliminary Observations.
Reptiles are usually regarded as disa- grecable and loathesome objects, though many of them, on account of their singu- lar structure and habits, are highly inter- esting. These animals have cold red blood, with a dry skin, which is naked or covered with seales, and, in many species, periodically renewed. Their temperature usually corresponds with that of the me- dium in which they are situated. When the temperature is down to freezing they become torpid. They are found largest and most numerous in the hottest portions of the earth.
The bones of reptiles are in general softer than those of quadrupeds and birds, and vary much in their connection and number in the different genera Frogs and toads have no ribs; serpents have them detached withont a sternum ; tortois- es have them all united together ; and lizards have them like birds. Some of these animals have four feet, others two, and others none. Some are fitted for leap- ing, others for crawling, and others for swimming, and several for all these modes of progression. Their circulation is im- perfect, their sensations obtuse, and they are in general sluggish in their habits.
Reptiles all produce their young by means of eggs ; these are not, however, hatched by the parent, but deposited in situations favorable for their develope- ment. In some genera the young are produced perfect, while in others they are of a widely different form, being shaped like, and having the habits of a fish, and like insects undergoing a transformation before arriving at perfection, of which the tadpole and frog afford a familiar example
In his classification of Reptiles, Cnvier adops the arrangement of Brongniart, who takes the characters of his orders from the principal organs, in conjunction with the animal functions. In this arrangement they are divided into the four following orders.
I. Chelonia, or Tortoises. Body cov- ered with a shield, or platc.
II. Sauria, or Lizards. Body covered with scales.
III. Ophidia, or Serpents. Destitute of feet.
IV. Batrachia, or Frogs, &c. Body covered with a naked and loose skin.
The following is a list of the Reptiles found in Vermont, arranged in the order in which they are described in the subse- quent pages.
113
REPTILES OF VERMONT.
Cuar. 4.
ONDERS OF REPTILES.
THE PAINTED TORTOISE.
ORDER CHELONIA-Tortoises.
Emys picta,
Painted Tortoise.
insculpta, Sculptured Tortoise.
I'myourws scantina, Snapping Tortoise. ORDER SAURIA .- Lizards.
There are none of this order found in the state.
.
ONDER OPHIDIA-Serpents.
Coluber sirtulis, saurita, Ribband Snake.
ordinatus,
Brown Snake.
" occipito macululus, Spotted-neck Snake.
punctatus, Ringed Snake.
cerualis,
Green Snake.
constrictor,
Black Snake.
crimius, Chicken Snake.
siprion, Water Snake.
Crotalus durissus, Rattle Snake.
ORDLA BATRACHIA -Batrachians.
Hana pipiens. Bull Frog.
" fontinalis,
balerina,
leopard Frog.
.. palustris,
" sylvatica,
.. Abriconensis .
" melanota,
Horicon Frog. Black Frog.
Hylodes Pickeringii, Pickering's flylodes, Ilyla versicolor, squirellu,
Rufo americanus,
Tree Toad. Peeping Tree Frog. Common Toad.
Salamandra symmetrica Symmetrical Salamander
dorsalis, Many Spotted do.
salmonen,
Salmon colored do.
tigrina, Tiger Salamander.
venenosa, Violet colored do.
"
erythronota, Red-backed do.
glutinosa, Glutinous do.
= bislincata, Two lined do.
Menobranchus maculatus, Proteus.
ORDER I -- CHELONIA. TORTOISES.
Animals of this order have four feet, a heart with two aurieles, and the body en - veloped in two plates, or shields, formed of the vertebrie and ribs above and ster- Dum beneath. Tortoises have no teeth, but their jaws are invested with a bony substance which serves as a substitute for teeth. The sexes may in general be distinguished by the cavity in the ster- num of the male. They possess great tenacity of life, moving for a long time after their heads are cut off. They re- quire little nourishment, and can pass months, and even years, without eating.
GENUS EMYS .- Brongniart.
Generic Characters .- Shell depressed, sol- id ; sternum broad, solid, immoveable, firmly joined to the shell, consisting of twelve plates, and futtr supplemental one 's ; extremities palmated, | nal.
Pr. 1. 15
anterior with five nads and posterior with four ; head of ordinary size; tail long.
THE PAINTED TORTOISE. Emys picta .- SCHNEIDER.
DESCRIPTION .- Shell oblong, oval, rath- er depressed, smooth, and of a dusky brown color ; all the dorsal and lateral plates margined with yellow; a reddish yellow line along the middle of the back ; first vertebral plate quadrangular, wider on the fore part and slightly elongated behind, the second six sided, the third quadrangular, the fourth six sided, nar- row behind, the fifth seven sided ; the first lateral plate four sided, upper edge narrow, the lower rounded ; the second and third nearly square. The intermedi- ute marginal plate is narrow, with a notch on each side ; all the rest are either ob- long or square, each having a red spot in the centre, surrounded by irregular con- centric red lines ; marginal plates mostly red .beneath ; stermmmm reddish yellow, serrated before ; pectoral plates narrow ; caudal plates triangular, rounded behind ; head and skin generally dark brown ; an oblong yellow spot behind each eye, and another upon the back part of the head ; cheeks and chin striped with yellow, be- coming red on the neck ; legs striped and spotted with red ; tail with two yellow stripes above and two red ones on the sides, which unite beneath in one; eyes small, pupil black ; iris golden, with a broad black stripe through the middle. Length of the shell of the specimen be- fore me 5 inches ; width 41 ; height 24.
Plates D. 5, L. 8, M. 25, S. 12.
MisTORY .- This is our most common species of tortoise, and exists in large minabers in the coves along the margin of lake Champlain and in the stagnant waters about the mouths of our rivers. It is very aquatic in its habits, and is seldom seen more than a few feet from the water. In the spring of the year, when the mar- shes are inundated, hundreds of these an- imals may be seen at a thne, sitting apon the rocks and logs which lie partly above the water, and basking in the sun. On ap- proaching them they immediately plunge into the water and disappear. When the
* D-dorsal, I,-lateral, M-marginat, S-siei-
Striped Snake.
Spring Frog.
Pickerel Frog.
Woods Frog.
114
NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.
PART I.
THE SCULPTURED TORTOISE.
THE SNAPPING TORTOISE.
painted Tortoise is first hatched it is very thin and nearly circular, and the color of the sternum deep red. As it grows the back becomes more elevated and the sides compressed, and the red of the sternum usually assumes a yellowish hue, and in some cases the red entirely disappears, leaving the sternum wholly yellow. It feeds upon shell-fish, insects and reptiles.
THIE SCULPTURED TORTOISE. Emys insculpla .- LE CONTE.
DESCRIPTION .- Shell oval, slightly car- Inated and emarginate behind; all the plates with yellowish radiating lines and strit, cut by other concentric strin ; first vertebral plate pentagonal, the 2d, 3d and 4th subhexagonal, the 5th octagonal ; six of its faces anterior ; Ist and 4th lateral plates pentagonal, 2d and 3d subheptago- nal ; intermediate marginal plate very narrow ; the first pentagonal projecting a little beyond the next; the rest mostly quadrangular ; the three plates on cach side of the candal plates slightly revo- lute ; sternum notched behind, yellow and striated, all the plates being marked with a large black spot on their posterior part ; plates ander the throat triangular ; all the rest quadrangular ; skin granula- ted or scaly, reddish black above, dull red beneath ; head, nails and tail black ; jaws dark horn color, marked with yellow. Length of the shell of the specimen be- fore me 63 inches ; width 53; width of the head 1 inch ; length of the tail beyond the shell 13 inch ; height 3 inches.
Plates D. 5, L. 8, M. 25, S. 12.
HISTORY .- This species, when fully grown, is a little larger than the preced- ing. It is not so aquatic in its habits, it being frequently found at a considerable distance from the water, and being often met with in the woods, it is sometimes called the Wood Tortoise. The Sculptured Tortoise not only resorts to coves, and the deep, still waters of rivers, but is fre- quently found taking shelter in the deep, narrow rills in our pastures and meadows. The lateral plates seem in this species to be subject to some variation. In one of my full grown specimens the lateral plates are only three, instead of four, npon each side. Food ofthis species the same as of the preceding
GENUS EMYSAURUS .- Dumeril.
Generic Characters .- Head large, covered with small plates; snout short; jaws hooked ; two warts beneath the chin; sternum immovea- ble, cruciforn, composed of ten plates ; three ster- ho-costal plates ;, fre feet with tive claws, bind ' et with bour ; tall long, surmounted with a scaly crest.
THE SNAPPING TORTOISE. Emysaurus serpentina .- LINNEUS.
DESCRIPTION .-- General color dark greenish brown above, lighter and yel- lowish beneath ; upper shell oval, depress- ed and notched behind; vertebral plates scabrous ; lateral marked near the base with concentric stric; marginal oblong, the six posterior ones forming six obtuse teeth, projecting backwards ; sternum narrow, lozenge-shaped, pointed and en- tire at both ends; head, neck and limbs very large and strong ; jaws sharp, hook- ed, skin of the neck and legs granular above and warty beneath ; two prominent warts under the chin; fore legs with rows of broad sharp scales; hind legs with several broad scales beneath ; claws strong, five before and four behind; tail straight, about two thirds the length of the shell, tapering, and crested with large bony prominences, which gradually di- minish towards the end ; sides and under part of the tail covered with smaller scales. Length of the shell, of the speci- men before me, 11 inches ; width 9 in- ches ; tail 8 in. ; head 3; in. long, 23 wide. Plates D. 5, L. 8, M. 25, S. 11.
HISTORY .- This is the largest specks of Tortoise found in Vermont, often weighing from 15 to 18 or 20 lbs. It is much more disposed to bite than the pre- ceding species. It will seize upon a stick held towards it, and suffer itself to be raised by it from the ground sooner than relinquish its hold ; and hence it is usually called in New England the Snapping Turtle, or Tortoise. At the south it is called the Alligator Tortoise, from the re- semblance of its crested tail to that of tho Alligator. This species is often found at a considerable distance from water, and will live a long time without water. It leeds: upon fishes, reptiles, and young
.
115
REPTILES OF VERMONT.
CHAP. 4.
LIZARDS.
SERPENTS .- THE STRIPED SNAKE. THE RIBBAND SNAKE.
birds, and is said sometimes to catch chickens.
ORDER U-SAURIA. LIZARDS.
These have elongated bodies, covered with scales, usually four feet ; some with claws and some without ; an elongated tail ; mouth furnished with teeth. No species of this order has been observed in Vermont. The reptiles usually called Lizards here all belong to the Salaman- der family.
ORDER II-OPHIDIA. SERPENTS.
Serpents have a heart with two auri- cles, an elongated, cylindrical body, des- titute of fret, and for the most part cov- ered with scales. They move by means of the folds and flexure of their bodies. They are sometimes divided into cenomons and non-renomous. The Rattle Snake is the only venomous or poisonous serpent found in Vermont.
GENUS COLURER .- Linnaus.
Generic Characters .- Body long, cylin- drical and tapering, head oblong, covered above with smooth polygonal plates ; above covered with romboidal scales, imbricate, reticulated, carinated, or smooth ; abdomen with transverse plates : beneath the tail with double plates ; anus transverse, simple ; jaws furnished with sharp teeth ; without poisonous fangs. Some species are oviparous, and others ovo-viviparous.
THE STRIPED SNAKE. Coluber sirtalis .- LINNAUS.
DESCRIPTION-Upper part of the body dark brown, with a narrow yellow line extending from the head along the back to, the tail, and a broader parallel stripe of the same color on each side joining the abdominal plates ; belly greenish yellow ; abdominal plates marked on each side with two black spots ; scales oblong, carinated, small on the back and increasing in size towards the abdomen ; head flattened, covered with ten plates, one at the nose, two pair back of this, three between the eyes, and behind these two larger ones ; pupil of the eye black, iris reddish ; small sharp teeth in the jaws and palate Of three specimens before ine, the first, 22 inches long, has 154 abdominal plates, and 75 pair of subcaudal scales, the sec- ond, 21 inches long, has 146 plates, and 62 pair of scales, and the third 27 inches long, of which the tail measures 6, 111 plates and 60 pair of sealer.
HISTORY .- This is the most common and generally diffused species of snake in Vermont, and is universally known by the name of Stripal Snake. It is perfect- ly harmless, excepting sometimes to catch a chicken, gosling, or young turkey or duck, aud rob birds' nests of their eggs, or young. They also feed upon toads and frogs. Serpents do not chew their food like quadrupeds, but whatever they eat they swallow whole. Their jaws are so constructed as to be separable at the joint, which enables them to swallow animals much larger than themselves; and in- stances of their swallowing such animals fall under the observation of every field laborer. Often does a large sluggish snake lie in his way, with a portion of his body distended to near the size of his fist. On killing and opening him, a large frog, toad, or other animal is found, which the gormandizer had caught, Imbricated and swallowed alive ; and for the digestion of which all the energies of the animal were now employed. Often have we ourselves been startled by the piercing and mourn- ful cry of a poor frog, which had been caught by one of these animals ; and how indignant have we been, on going to tho spot, to see the horror-stricken sufferer, with his hind quarters ingulfed in the throat of a huge snake, vainly struggling with his fore feet to extricate himself, and at the same time uttering a most piteous moan. Under such circumstances it has afforded us real satisfaction to destroy the cruel aggressor and liberate his wretched victim. For the purpose of robbing birds' nests this snake will climb fences and bushes several feet from the ground. The usual length of this snake is abont two feet, of which the tail constitutes ono fourth. He sometimes attains the length of about three feet.
THIE RIBBAND SNAKE. Coluber saurita .- LINN.
DESCRIPTION .- Form more slender and graceful than that of the striped snake, which it resembles in the arrangement of its stripes. A bright yellowish white line begins between the posterior plates on the head and extends along the back to the extremity of the tail. On each side of this, commencing at the orhit of the eye, is a shining black line which fades into brown towards the posterior extremity. Then comes a narrow yellow line on each side, commencing haif an inch back of the angle of the mouth, which also fades into umber brown towards the tad. Bo- low these, on each side, is a broad, well- defined supe of nadan brown, :byttly
-
116
NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.
PART L
THIE BROWN SNAKE.
THE SPOTTED-NECK SNAKE.
bronzed, embracing a row of large scales, | spots, and two rows of similar spots, but whose keels form a distinct lateral line, and extending down upon the abdominal plates and subcandal scales. The margin of the upper jaw, the under jaw and belly are white ; all the colors fainter and blended towards the tail. The upper jaw margined by 15 and the under by 21 mar- ginal plates ; two rows of teeth in the up- per and one in the lower jaw, all small and sharp. Length of the specimen be- fore ine 29 inches ; to the vent 20, tail 9. Head covered with 10 plates, the poste- rior largest. Abdominal plates 165, sub- candal scales 110 pair.
Ihsrony .- I forwarded a specimen of this snake to my friend Dr. Storer, of Boston, who, in acknowledging its recep- tion, says that it " is without any qnes- tion the sirtalis." After so decided an opinion from such high authority, it may be thought presumption in me to intro- dnce it as a different species ; but know- ing it, from my own observations, to dif- for very considerably from the common C. sirtalis, both in appearance and hab- its, and finding it to agree as nearly with the descriptions which I find of the C. saurita, I have ventured to describe it under that name, that the differences be- tween it and the sirtalis may be seen. Besides differing in form and color, and in the much greater number of subcaudal scales, it is far more lively and quicker in all its motions, and so far as my own observation extends is always found in low grounds, and at no great distance from water. Among hundreds of the C. sirtalis which I have seen upon the high lands and mountains in this state, I have never met with an individual answering to the description here given. . Shaw calls the color of the stripes of both these species bluish-green, from which it is probable that his descriptions were made from specimens preserved in spirits, since the yellow stripes in these serpents, nn- der such circumstances, assume that hue.
THE BROWN SNAKE. Coluber ordinatus .- LINNAEUS.
much smaller, along the extremities of the abdominal plates on each side, the spots becoming obsolete towards the tail ; scales carinated, small on the back but in- creasing in size towards the belly ; head small, covered with ten plates of an olive brown color, the two posterior, and the middle one between the eyes, largest. The upper jaw is margined by 11 scales, and the lower by 12, besides the tip; an oblique black band crosses the angle of the month, and another a little back of it on the upper part of the neck ; teeth in both jaws, and two rows of hooking teeth in the palate ; eyes small ; iris bright ha- zel. Length of the specimen before me about 15 inches; abdominal plates 130; a small part of the tail broken off.
HISTORY .-- This plain and harmless little snake is frequently met with, but is less common than several other species. I have met with only two or three indi- viduals in Burlington. It feeds upon in- sects.
THE SPOTTED-NECK SNAKE.
Coluber occipito-maculatus .- STORER.
DESCRIPTION .- Color above varying in the specimens before me, six in number, from light ash gray and reddish brown to nearly black ; belly from a light brick red to a very dark copper color ; three fulvous spots on the neck, one at the occiput above, and one below, on each side ; in some of the specimens a row of blackish scales, usually slightly marked with white on each side of the dorsal line, and an- other row at the commencement of the abdominal plates ; in others the color above is uniform ; 12 plates margin the upper jaw besides the one at the snout ; snout and under jaw yellowish white, and a white spot at the angle of the mouth ; throat grayish, gradually passing into res on the abdomen ; width of the head equal to that of the body ; neck small, body gradually enlarges from the neck to near the vent, where it is largest; tail short and sharply pointed, contained 43 times in the total length ; iris reddish hazel. Length of the longest specimen 9.9 inch- es, tail 2.2, with 119 abdominal plates and
DESCRIPTION .- Brownish ash or clay color above, lighter beneath ; a light stripe along the back from the head to the tail, on each side of which is a row of black | 45 pairs of subcaudal scales ; another
117
REPTILES OF VERMONT.
CHAP. 4.
THE RINGED AND GREEN SNAKES.
THE BLACK SNAKE.
about the same length had 122 plates and | ish white ; margin of the upper jaw yel- 46 pair of scales; the shortest 3.7 in., tail .8, plates 119, scales 42 pair ; the others not counted.
HISTORY .- This mild and inoffensive little suake, though very common in and about Burlington, is seldom seen in the early part of suinmer. They begin to make their appearance abroad about the beginning of September, and during that month, and the greater part of October, they are in some years met with in large numbers, varying in length from 3 to 10 or JI inches, which is about the extent to which they grow. The shade of color above seems to be as varions as the indi- viduals. In the whole number which I have examined 1. have not found two alike; but in all, the contrast between the color above nud that of the belly is very marked, and the spots on the neck and at the angle of the mouth have been constant, and in most cases very plain.
THE RINGED SNAKE. Coluber punctatus .- LINNAEUS.
DESCRIPTION .- Color above uniform Wuish brown, approaching to black in sume specimens ; beneath yellow ; mar- gin of the upper jaw, lower jaw and band ronud the neck, yellowish white ; a row of small black spots along each side of the abdomen at the meeting of the dark color above with the light color below ; usually a similar row of spots along the middle of the abdomen from the chin to the vent, but this is wanting in the specimen before me. Head flattish, about the width of the body, neck but little smaller than the body. Length 13 inches, tail 3, plates 161, scales 60 pair.
HISTORY .- This snake is of a timid dis- position, being seldom seen abroad, but is often met with in different parts of the state, concealed under stones, logs, and the bark of old, decayed trees. Its food consists principally of insects.
THE GREEN SNAKE. Coluber vernalis .- DE KAY.
lowish ; pupil black, upper edge of the iris yellow, below grayish brown. Scales not keeled, smooth, rhomboidal, with the acute angles truncated, giving them the appearance of unequal sided hexagons. Ilead flattened and covered with 10 plates, one at the snout, two pair behind these, then 3 plates between the eyes, 2 larger ones behind these upon the occiput, up- per jaw bordered by 15 scales, including the one at the snont; nostril circular, and near the end of the snout. Length of the specimen before me IS! inches, head gin, from the snout to the vent 113, tail 6., width of the head .3. Tail terminated in a sharp, horn-colored spine. Abdominal plates 131, sub-randal 170 in the two rows.
Ilisony .- This beautiful and lively little snake is very common in the west- ern parts of the state, and particularly in the neighborhood of lake Champlain. It is perfectly harmless, and feeds principal- ly upon insects. On the east side of the Green Mountains in this state, it is quite rare, if found at all.
THE BLACK SNAKE. Coluber constrictor .- LINNAEUS.
DESCRIPTION .-- Color above almost black ; beneath, slate-color ; neck, mar- gin of the jaws, and snout, yellow. Plates on the top of the head very large ; that at the suout convex, projecting, yellow bor- dered with black at the upper and laterat margins ; first pair of plates nearly quad- rangular ; the second, pentagonal ; mid- dle plate between the eyes hexagonal and largest of the three ; 16 plates border the upper jaw; eyes large ; nostrils large, vertical, situated between the 2d and 3d plates back of the snout; three pair of elongated plates on the throat just back of the chin; back of these two pair of smaller ones ; back covered with large rhomboidal smooth scales. Length 51 inches, tail 11. Abdominal plates 184, scales 85 .- Storer.
Hisrony .- This snake is met with only in the south and southwestern parts of the state, and even there it is not very common. It sometimes grows to the length of 6 feet, and runs with great speed, on which account it is sometimes called the Racer. It is perfectly harm- less, and feeds upon toads, frogs, meadow miec and small birds, swallowing them whole. It was formerly very generally believed to possess the power of fascina- tion, and Dr. Williams adduces (Hist. I -- 185,) the testimony of several persons
DESCRIPTION .- Color above beautiful , in support of the opinion, but the notion grass green ; beneath greenish, or yellow- | is now very generally exploded.
118
NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.
PART Ļ
THE CHICKEN AND WATER SNAKES.
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