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Image provided by: Chappaqua Library
' NEW CASTLE NEWS, jFltoA^/^EIL 6, 19gJJ» 7 ost Local Snakes f Harmless Species There is no creature under the sun, with the possible exception of bats, about which such a lore of misinformation has collected, as snakes. They are overwhelm ingly a harmless race of crea tors with only a few really dan gerous species' among them, at least in these climes, and many species have useful roles to play in the control of pests and ver min. The differences in species are as readily recognizable as the differences in breeds of dogs, jxcept of course that amongst 3S there are no mongrels. -Westchester County Con- ion Association has is- hulletin on snakes of the and we are herewith ishing the list principally, the hope that a little infor mation will prevent a great deal of misgiving on the part of resi dents of New Castle who live in rural areas when the reptiles of the region ibegin to stretch their tails this spring. ^he information contained in the bulletin was compiled by the late Dr. Raymond Ditmars, president of the Association for 15 years. Harmless Westchester Snakes RING-NECKED SNAKE: Hides under stones, loose bark. likes cool, damp forested places. Found mostly in northern West chester, sometimes a dozen in a g^tup. Size: No thicker than end of pen holder when fully grown. Color: Scales lustrous gray or blue-black, with markings. Yel lowish ring around neck. Under side usually same hue with row of dark spots. RED - BELLIED DROWN SNAKE (STORER'S SNAKE): Very rare. Ocassionally reported in northern portions of County. t e: Seldom over 12 inches, lor: Brown or gray above. Chiefly distinguished by brilliant red undersides. WATER SNAKE (MOCCASIN SNAKE): Not related to poison ous water moccasin of southern states. Eats frogs, toads, fish. Makes home in margins of ponds, lakes, streams. Young produced alive, sometimes three tozen. to litter. Size: Average ™ feet up to 4 feet. 2 inches thick. Color: Dull torown or al most black. Broad irregular cross- bands of reddish brown on sides Undersides yellowish white and usually marked with red spots WORM SNAKE: Seldom seen because of its burrowing habits Eats larvae and earthworms. Size: Usually 6 to 7 inches long. Color: Brown or gray above, ffciklsh beneath with smooth glossy scales. BLACKSNAKE (BLACK RACER) Found in mountains, low-lying meadows and farmlands. Whip like and swift in motion, .but have no power of constriction (power to contract or squeeze its body). Preys on cold and warm-blooded animals, especially rodents; therefore valuable to farmers. An egg-laying reptile. Size: 4 to 6 feet. Color: Smooth scaled, satiny black, with single patch of white at chin. BROWN SNAKE (DEKAY'S SNAKE): Most abundant snake in Westchester. Often found in gardens. Eats earthworms. Size: Small, averaging 12 inches. Color: Brown or dark gray; pinkish white undersurf.ace. Has series of minute black dots in pairs along back. GiARTER SNAKE (STRIPED SNAKE): A common snake in Westchester, largely terrestrial. Feeds only on cold-blooded an imals such as frogs, salaman ders, tadpoles. Bears youngt alive, often several dozen to a litter. Has fluid of evil odor in glands at base, of tail. This can be of fensive if snake is handled..Size: Male 2 to 2£ feet. Female up to 3 feet. Color: Brown or black with yellow stripes extending lengthwise. Underside greenish yellow. GREEN SNAKE: Lives in damp meadows and feeds on insects. Raises young from eggs. Size: Average 1 foot. Color: Uniform satiny green. HISSING ADDER (HOG- NOSED SNAKE): Puts on quite a show when disturbed. First it widens head and body, then hisses alarmingly and strikes with wide open mouth. Later may roll over and play dead. Has no fangs and is not harmful. Size: Thick-bodied, 2 to 3 feet in length. Color: Highly variable, but most commonly yellowish or brown; blotched pattern on back. MILK SNAKE (CHECKERED ADDER): Does not steal milk from cows. Enters barns in search of mice. Very beneficial. Some times confused with poisonous copperhead, but the milk snake has smooth scales and quite dif ferent markings. Size: Average 3 feet. Color: Grayish, with series of reddish, irregular blotches, edged with black. Underneath white, with oblong blotches of black. PILOT BLACKSNAKE: This snake likes to climb trees. Hi bernates in a hollow tree or rock ledge. Useful in destroying ro dents. The largest reptile in the county. A constrictor. Occurs sparingly. Size: Up to 8 feet. Color: Glossy black scales, patches of white along abdomen. RIBBON SNAKE: Found in swampy meadows or along streams. Often swims. Feeds on small fish, tadpoles and frogs. Produces living young. Rather rare. Size: A 3 foot snake will be barely % inch thick. Color: Dark brown or black. Yellow stripe down back. Pattern is more intense and \neat\ than that of the garter snake. POISONOUS SNAKES COPPERHEAD SNAKE: This snake is fairly common in areas of the County north of White Plains. Found particularly in hilly sections with ledgy slopes. There is no known record of a fatality from the bite of a cop perhead in Westchester. Size: Thick-bodied, from 2 to 3 feet long. Color: Chestnut brown or pinkish gray. Has crossbands of dark brown, these are narrow at the back and wider on the sides. Has deep pit between eyes and nostril. Head wedge-shaped. Pupil of eye elliptic (harmless snakes have round pupils). TIMBER RATTLESNAKE (BANDED RATTLESNAKE): Very rare. Found in hilly sec tions of extreme northern West chester. Immediately distin guished by the rattle at the end of tfa^^il. Size: from 3 to 5 feet. Color*: Yellowish or brownish, with wavy transverse bands or blotches. Occasionally speci mens are blackish in color. DEWHIRST W. WADE EXPERT TREE SERVICE Pleasantville, N.Y. Tel. Pleas. 2-0234 Phone For Free Estimate PIANO TUNING and GENERAL REPAIRING GEORGE A. WILLIAMS Park Drive CHappaqua 1-0679 FINE PICTURES DISTINCTIVE FRAMING GIFTS ART OBJECTS 112 EAST POST ROAD WHITE PLAINS, N. Y. Telephone White Plains 9-6604 a LEARN TO DRIVE Private Instructions RAY TIMNEY Auto Driving School Licensed • 9 safety dual n N. Y. State control cars. • Immediate • Hydramatic service at and standard your door. shifts. WHite Plains 8-4660—8-9212 129 CENTRAL AVENUE DIRECT FACTORY PRICED THEY'RE FACTORY FRESH . . . 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