CHAPTER XXX: THE RACERS 



GENERA SPILOTES AND ZAMENIS 

 Large Non-constricting Serpents, Characterised by their Great Agility 



SLIM and graceful in form, large of size and very active in 

 their movements, the snakes of the genera Spilotes and Zamenis 

 have attained, in the popular interest, a certain prominence over 

 many other reptiles, and may be appropriately grouped under 

 a general, popular head The Racers. 



One species of Spilotes the Gopher or Indigo Snake, occurs 

 in the United States. The genus is a small one, in numbers. 

 Most of the species occur in tropical South America. Zamenis 

 is a large genus. The species inhabit North America, Mexico 

 and Central America, and the Old World. Four species and 

 several distinct varieties of these snakes occur in the United 

 States. Two of the species inhabit the southwestern portion; 

 the remaining two species range from the Atlantic to the Pacific 

 Coasts. 



All of the North American Racers have perfectly smooth 

 scales. Although the body appears powerful enough, none of 

 these snakes evinces the habit of constricting the prey. 



A concise table, to assist in identification, follows: 



A. Scales polished. One plate (preocular) in front of eye. 

 Ventral plate entire. Genus Spilotes 

 Lustrous black above and beneath. 



Chin red. 



GOPHER SNAKE; INDIGO SNAKE, S. corals couperi. 

 Distribution. South Carolina to Florida; westward 

 to eastern Texas and Mexico. 



B. Scales with dull, satiny lustre. Two plates (preoculars) 

 in front of eye. Ventral plate divided. 



Genus Zamenis. 

 a. No stripes or bands.* 



Uniform, slaty black above and beneath ; chin and throat 

 white. BLACKSNAKE, Z. constrictor. 



Distribution. U. S. east of the Mississippi. 



*The key appeals to adult representatives of the species. 



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