“Sirtalis” is the Latin word for a garter. It is more-or-less pronounced “SEER-tah-liss.” Back in1843, an Austrian zoologist came up with this wacko name for a snake that is commonthroughout North America. The full scientific name is Thamnophis (pronounced THAM-no-fiss)sirtalis. Basically, it means a bush snake that wears a garter – or looks like a garter. Take yourpick.The scientific name stuck. So there you have the reason why the official state snake of Virginiais known by a word for a...