60 to 75 cm but may reach a 
     
     length of over 100 cm. When 
     
     captured they eject an un- 
     
     pleasant fluid from glands 
     
     around the anal opening. 
     
    

    
     The Garter Snake hibernates 
     
     in dry frost-free locations 
     
     such as under rocks or in well- 
     
     drained soil. These snakes 
     
     emerge soon after the snow 
     
    
   
   
    
     disappears. In the spring and ‘ 3&5" 
     
     - - . ,A I,- /// 
     
     summer it occupies a variety of * if <?flg7/ 
     
    
   
   
    
         
     
    
   
   
    
     habitats. It may frequent rocky °°'j :72/ 
     
     woodlands, fields, hedgerows, swamps, ' 
     
     bogs, roadside ditches, or stay near 
     
    
   
   
    
     ponds to feed on frogs and toads. Other 
     
    

    
     foods include insects and earthworms. Young are born alive in late July, August 
     
     or September. About 30 young are born at a time although sometimes the figure 
     
    

    
     is much higher. Young Garter Snakes are about 12 to 20 cm long at birth. Garter 
     
     Snakes may not hibernate until late in the fall, often gathering in large numbers 
     
     to do so. This species is the largest as well as the most common snake on the 
     
     Island. 
     
    
   
   
    
     3. Smooth Green Snake (Opheodrys vernalis) 
     
    
   
   
    
     This snake is a beautiful smooth grassy 
     
     green above and whitish beneath. It 
     
     ranges in length from 30 to 50 cm. 
     
     Green Snakes hibernate earlier in fall 
     
     than the other two Island species, and 
     
     may spend the winter singly or in groups. The Smooth Green Snake also emerges 
     
     later in spring. It is found in grassy areas, rock piles and logs. It eats 
     
     insects and spiders. This is the only snake species in the province with young 
     
     hatching from eggs. The white elongated eggs are laid in late July and August 
     
     under stones or wood. It takes 3 to 4 weeks to hatch. Young are of a greyish 
     
     colour and are 10 to 13 cm long. The Green Snake has not been frequently reported 
     
     from the Island. 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     This concludes the series on the herptiles of P.E.I. Since this group has not 
     
     been well studied on P.E.I. information on distribution and abundance is scanty. 
     
     It is highly possible that additional species of amphibians and reptiles may be 
     
     present in the province. To help fill in the gaps in our knowledge of Island 
     
     herptiles, the newsletter editor would appreciate receiving records of any 
     
     sightings. 
     
    
   
   
    
     REFERENCES: 
     
    
   
   
    
     Cook, F.R. 1967. An Analysis of the Herpetofauna of Prince Edward Island. Nat. 
     
     Mus. Can. Bull. No. 212. Ottawa. 60 pp. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Gorham, S.W. 1970. The Amphibians and Reptiles of New Brunswick. N.B. Museum 
     
     Monographic Series No. 6. St. John. 30 pp. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Martin, J.L. = 1955. The Amphibians and Reptiles of Nova Scotia. N.S. Museum. 
     
     Halifax. 17 pp. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Zim, H. S. and H.M. Smith. 1956. Golden Nature Guide: Reptiles and Amphibians. 
     
     Golden Press. New York. 160 pp. 
     
    
   
   
    
     H