George,

After seeing Justin Shaffner's post, I agree with him. Here is what one website says about the Eastern Hognose Snake --

"When confronted, its first defense is an aggressive display in which it spreads its neck horizontally, inflates its body, hisses loudly, and strikes. The very impressive display has earned it the misname of "Spread Adder" and other frightening names."

A website from the Fairfax County school system describes the behavior this way -- "When they do this, they very much resemble cobras."

A good picture that shows the behavior that Susan Moss was talking about can be found at http://www.snakesandfrogs.com/scra/snakes/images/Eastern%20Hognose%20201.jpg

And the color looks like what Susan was talking about.

What does it say about us that it takes Democrats ten years to identify a snake?

Which raises another question -- do you know any elected official who has been in office for 10 years who is just beginning to be recognized as a snake? (Just a rhetorical question...)

Lloyd Snook (electronic mail, May 15, 2006)