Phatwater on the Natchez Gauge today is 42.49′.

It was once told by  the Ministry of All Things Of Interest, “Anything that covers your face we are in favor of.”  It’s a sentiment with which I cannot argue.  Here, a snake can be seen improving my looks.

I have an affinity for reptiles, and on a given day, round these parts, all three orders of reptiles can be encountered.  Actually, I should clarify that because, of the four true orders of reptiles, only three occur in the western hemisphere-Crocodilians, Testudines, (turtles&tortoises), and Squamata, under whose glowing headline both lizards and snakes are found.

This snake we found on the Natchez Trace, this past Wednesday.

It’s a rough green snake, Opheodrys aestivus, often called a ‘grass snake’, though in Latin the name means “Snake of the trees, during summer season.” They are masterful climbers, and many who see them do so in the branches of low shrubs, where their coloration allows them to ambush their  principal prey-arboreal insects.

It was a good day for snakes this past Wednesday.  The air temperature was about 80Ëš F., and the Sun made brief appearances, during one of which we came across this little corn snake, entangled in a fern Melissa was attempting to hang at The Cedars Plantation, for one of the Phatwater’s Premier Sponsors,  Betty Paradise.

The corn snake, Elaphe gutatta, takes its name from the resemblance the pattern has to Indian corn, particularly on the ventral side, seen here:

Ventral surface of corn snake neonate, showing Indian "Corn-like" pattern

You will note, in both snakes, the round pupil, which is a feature seen only in non-venomous snakes within our range. The eastern coral snake, Micrurus fulvius, is the only venomous snake with a round pupil found in Mississippi; however, their range in Mississippi does not extend to the Phatwater.

On the previous day, one of the many felines in residence at The Cedars brought to my attention this little fellow.

Playing 'Possum

At first glance, it would seem this fellow was having a hard time of it.  However, his posturing was all too familiar.  This is an eastern hognose snake, Heterodon platyrhinos, whose habit of playing ‘possum, when molested, is the stuff of Oscar winning performances.  Once rescued from the attention of Petunia, this little fellow was restored to the full measure of his being, and went on about his business, as seen in the following series of shots.

Who knows?  Some day he may become a Senator.

A reorder of our Pub Glasses is only possible if we place the minimum order of one gross.  We don’t mind doing this to accommodate those who did not receive one.  We’re all about good will, after all.  We would like to sell any additional glasses to any of you who would like to order them.  They’re $15 apiece if any of you are interested.