PITUOPHIS MELANOLEUCUS. 9 



covered with very large and broad plates. The tail is terminated by a horny 

 excrescence or point. 



Colour. The plates of the head above are dusky in their centre, often tinged 

 with olive, and are margined with dirty-white; the lips are white, with an olive or 

 dusky bar at the junction of each plate; the throat is white. 



The body and tail above are milky-white, more or less clouded, and marked 

 with a vertebral series of oblong black blotches; a second series of blotches of 

 similar colour and of equal length, but much more narrow, is placed on the 

 flanks; the abdomen is pale cream-colour, with a regular series of sub-quadrate 

 black blotches on each side near where the plates join with the scales; these 

 blotches occupy portions of two abdominal plates, and are placed in general 

 opposite each other, and usually at intervals of three plates; these blotches 

 become more irregular at the tail, and finally disappear altogether. 



Dimensions. Length of head, 2 inches; length of body to vent, 6 feet 2 inches; 

 length of tail beyond vent, 13 inches: total length, 7 feet 3 inches; greatest 

 circumference, 6 inches. They however reach a greater size: I have seen one 9 

 feet in length. In the specimen here described there were 216 abdominal plates 

 and 60 sub-caudal bifid plates. 



Habits. The Pituophis mclanoleucus inhabits the pine forests along the sea 

 coast, but I believe is not found far in the interior of the Atlantic states, though 

 I have heard of its existence west of the Alleghanics. It feeds on rabbits, 

 squirrels, birds, &:c., and is timid and "inoflensive with respect to mankind." 

 Although a large animal, it moves with great celerity, and is taken alive with 

 much difficulty, as they frequently have large holes in the earth, to which they 

 precipitately retreat when danger is apprehended. Bartram says, in the season 

 of '■'■incuhation,''^ it makes "a terrible hiss, resembling distant thunder;" which I 

 have never heard, though I am well acquainted with the animal. 

 Vol. IV.— 2 



