THE BLACK SNAKE. 133 



KENNICOTT'S CHAIN SNAKE (Ophibolus calligaster) is a species found from Illinois to 

 Kansas. 



THE INDIGO SNAKE (Spilotes couperi), called also Gopher Snake, is a dark indigo-blue 

 in color, much resembling the Black Snake in the bluish-black color. It is stouter in 

 body, and from that fact and a fancied courageousness, the negroes regard it as an enemy 

 and victor of the rattlesnake. Its 

 habit of frequenting the holes 

 of the Gopher suggests the local 

 name. 



Species belonging to the 

 genus Coluber are found in Aus- 

 tralia, India, Japan, China, and 

 Europe, the latter (Coluber cescu- 

 lapii} being the Serpent which is 

 represented by the ancients as 

 twined round the staff of ^Escu- 

 lapius and the caduceus of Mer- 

 cury. 



THE BLACK SNAKE of America 

 (Bascanium constrictor] is per- 

 haps the best known of the nu- 

 merous Serpents, which, happen- 

 ing to be black or dark brown, 

 have been called by the same 

 title. 



This Snake is common in North- 

 ern America, where it is sometimes 

 known under the name of RACER, 

 on account of its great speed. It is 

 a perfectly harmless, but highly 

 irascible reptile, especially during 

 the breeding-season, when it seems 

 to become endowed with an un- 

 reasoning ferocity, which, happily 



for the world, is seldom found in COLUBER.- cw*r wcut 



reptiles better provided with offen- 

 sive weapons. It has a curious habit of rustling its tail among the herbage in such a man- 

 ner as to resemble the whirr of the dreaded rattlesnake, and then darts at the object of 

 its rage and inflicts a tolerably severe bite, thereby inducing great terror on the part of the 

 sufferer, who, in the hurry of the moment, naturally believes that he has been bitten by 

 the rattlesnake itself. 



It is fond of climbing trees in search of young birds, eggs, and similar dainties, and even 

 in that position, is of so tetchy a disposition, that when irritated, it will descend in order 

 to attack its foe. Even if confined with other Snakes, it becomes quarrelsome, fights with 

 them, and if possible will kill them. 



The haunts of the Black Snake are usually to be found along the edges of streams and 

 ponds or lakes, and the reptile is mostly to be seen in shady spots, well sheltered by brush- 

 wood. Sometimes, however, it goes farther a-field, and wanders over the free country, 

 traverses rocky soil, or glides along the roadside. 



It is a most useful reptile, being very fond of rats, and able from its great agility to 

 climb over walls or buildings in search of its prey, and to insinuate its black length into 

 their holes. 



