I ran into this guy next to my driveway in Massachusetts today. Can't find it on any of the identify-this-snake web sites. What struck me was the hood, and the whole coiling/hissing act it did (I've never seen that in real life before, all the snakes I see are tiny little wusses that just want to run away). It didn't show me any fangs so I assume it was bluffing (well I got bitten by a garter snake once so I know even being gummed on is worth avoiding so I was respectful anyway) but I'm all curious! It looked more than one foot long but less than two, and when it got tired of looking at me it went back to nosing around in the leaves, but didn't seem that interested by all the rodent holes so I'm guessing it was looking for something smaller. VERY pretty skin... And I liked how it would swell up from one end to the other when it was inhaling for the next hiss. I can't imagine how snakes must work inside (where's the diaphragm?).

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