small alarm to the wanderer among the brushwood near the edges of
streams or ponds. It is also frequently encountered in the fields or on
the roads.

It is generally from five to six feet in length; of a blue-black above,
and an ashy grey below. It climbs trees in search of birds or their
eggs; and if interrupted in its employment, will turn its rage against
the intruder. Sometimes, it is asserted, it will, to his horror, leap
down and give him a bite; though the only injury likely to arise is that
to his nervous system from fright. Its bite is, indeed, perfectly
harmless; and it does good service in hunting rats which live in the
outbuildings, being able to climb walls and insinuate itself into the
most intricate passages when chasing them.

THE COACH-WHIP SNAKE.

The last snake we will mention is the coach-whip snake, belonging to the
family of Dryadidae. No serpent can surpass it in the rapidity of its
movements, as, with its lithe, black body--between five and six feet in
length--and whiplike tail, it makes its way amid the grass in pursuit of
its prey. It seems literally to fly over the ground with the speed of
lightning.

It is curiously like the thong of a whip, being very long in proportion
to its girth, with a remarkably small head and neck; its smooth scales--
so arranged as greatly to resemble the plaited leather of a whip--of a
polished brown-black hue increasing the resemblance.

When about to seize its prey, it darts forward with open mouth, grasping
the animal; in an instant it winds its lithe body and tail round and
round it, so as to make escape impossible. It will thus attack birds of
prey of considerable size, and come off victorious.

Travellers unacquainted with the reptiles which haunt the wilds of
America, on first seeing a whip-snake rapidly approaching, will, with
sensations of alarm, urge on their steeds to escape--for it appears
fully capable of springing up and inflicting mortal injury; but, from
having no fangs, it is unable to harm any one. From the delicacy of its
colour, the elegance of its form, and the rapidity and gracefulness of
its movements, it cannot fail to be admired.

FROGS:--THE BULL FROG.

We shall find no small number of the frog race throughout America.
Worthy of being the president of his nation is that enormous batrachian,
the bull frog, both from his size, the power of his notes, and his
hardihood and endurance. If we visit at night the neighbourhood o