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face="Tahoma"><hr size="1"><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">From:</span></b> James W. Wolford &lt;jimwolford@eastlink.ca&gt;<br><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">To:</span></b> NatureNS &lt;naturens@chebucto.ns.ca&gt;; Tuma Young &lt;tumayoung@yahoo.ca&gt;; John Gilhen &lt;GILHENJA@gov.ns.ca&gt;<br><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sent:</span></b> S
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Hi Jim & All, Sep 19, 2010
I took a melanistic garter snake to Sherman Bleakney in the late 60's or early 70's; dead so he may have made notes or preserved it. This was in New Minas on a somewhat weedy west facing highway cut of the road that crosses the Cornwallis meadow from 101 exit 12 & therefore post construction of this extension by at leasts 3 years.
It was far more agressive than I have otherwise seen (rearing up, hissing and attempting to strike) so thinking it might be a dangerous escaped pet I killed it.
I also briefly saw a black snake, presumably garter but at the time I had no idea, at Cambridge in about 1942; just after the 'Waterville' airport was constructed in Cambridge. It was on a ledge of bare earth below an airport drain pipe and at about my chest level so I had an unobstructed view of it.
This topic came up several years ago on naturens and, if I recall correctly, it was considered to be uncommon but widespread.
Perhaps John can confirm or correct.
Yt, Dave Webster, Kentville
----- Original Message -----
From: James W. Wolford
To: NatureNS ; Tuma Young ; John Gilhen
Sent: Sunday, September 19, 2010 6:25 PM
Subject: [NatureNS] further re Toad Hawk?
Tuma, Another comment re black snakes in Nova Scotia: melanistic or black Maritime garter snakes occur on George's Island in Halifax Harbour, I believe, but perhaps nowhere else in N.S.? (However, all snakes and most vertebrates can very rarely show black individuals, e.g. black red squirrels, black groundhogs, black voles, etc. Cheers from Jim in Wolfville
Begin forwarded message:
From: "James W. Wolford" <jimwolford@eastlink.ca>
Date: September 19, 2010 6:17:39 PM ADT
To: NatureNS <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>, Tuma Young <tumayoung@yahoo.ca>
Subject: [NatureNS] re Toad Hawk?
Reply-To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
Tuma, I would have suggested our broad-winged hawk as a candidate, since it often preys upon snakes -- another candidate that is quite rare in N.S. would be red-shouldered hawk. Jim in Wolfville
Begin forwarded message:
From: iamclar@dal.ca
Date: September 19, 2010 1:04:01 PM ADT
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca, tumayoung@yahoo.ca
Subject: Re: [NatureNS] Toad Hawk
Reply-To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
Hi Tuma:
All the buteos will catch and eat snakes and amphibia. However, I would favour N. Harrier as catching these even moreso, and being suffiently distinct to catch attention.. Just a guess.
Cheers, Ian
Quoting Tuma Young <tumayoung@yahoo.ca>:
Kwe Msit Wen:
In my search for Mi'kmaq names of birds, I have come across an old name for a
particular hawk-it is called a Toad Hawk or a Snake-killer hawk. It is known to
be a "...Killer of Black Snakes..." Any one have any idea of which hawk this
may refer to?
Your help is appreciated.
Tuma Young
Halifax
Koqwaqja'tekaq'tinej.
(Let Us Choose The Correct Behaviour)
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<DIV><FONT size=2>Hi Jim & All,
Sep 19, 2010</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2> I took a melanistic garter snake to Sherman
Bleakney in the late 60's or early 70's; dead so he may have made notes or
preserved it. This was in New Minas on a somewhat weedy west
facing highway cut of the road that crosses the Cornwallis meadow from 101 exit
12 & therefore post construction of this extension by at leasts 3
years.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2> It was far more agressive than I have
otherwise seen (rearing up, hissing and attempting to strike) so thinking it
might be a dangerous escaped pet I killed it.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2> I also briefly saw a black snake,
presumably garter but at the time I had no idea, at Cambridge in about 1942;
just after the 'Waterville' airport was constructed in Cambridge. It was
on a ledge of bare earth below an airport drain pipe and at about
my chest level so I had an unobstructed view of it.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2> This topic came up several years ago on
naturens and, if I recall correctly, it was considered to be uncommon but
widespread.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2> Perhaps John can confirm or
correct.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Yt, Dave Webster, Kentville</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT: 10pt arial; BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=jimwolford@eastlink.ca href="mailto:jimwolford@eastlink.ca">James W.
Wolford&l