OPHIDIA : COLUBERIDyE. 



303 



Fig. 159- 



white transverse bands ; length about thirty inches. The 

 King Snake, O. Sayi, B. & G., of the Gulf States, is black 

 above, each scale with a large yellow spot in the centre ; 

 length about forty inches. 



The Thunder Snake, or Chain Snake, O. gctulus, B. & 

 G., from New York to Mississippi, is black, crossed above 

 by about thirty narrow lines bifurcating on the flanks ; 

 length thirty to forty inches or more. 



The House, Milk, or Chicken Snake, O. cximius, B. & 

 G., of the Northern and Middle States, is grayish ash, 

 with a dorsal series of upwards of fifty transverse ellip- 

 tical, chocolate blotches, and with two other alternating 

 series on each side ; length twenty-five to forty inches. 



The Genus Georgia is represented by the Indigo or 

 Gopher Snake, G. Conpcri, B. & G., of Georgia, which is 

 sixty inches long, black above, slate beneath. 



The Genus Basca- 

 nion contains the Black 

 Snakes, three species 

 of which are found in 

 the United States. 



The Common Black 

 Snake, B. constrictor, B. 

 & G., of North Amer- 

 ica, is three to five feet 

 long or more, lustrous 

 black above, greenish 

 black beneath ; chin 

 and throat white. It 

 climbs trees and bush- 

 es, and devours the 

 young of birds, but is 

 perfectly harmless to 

 man. 



The GenUS MaStl- Black Snake, B. constrictor, B. & G. 



