THE SNAKES 255 



Two fine specimens in the Zoological Park so constantly 

 hit the glass of the cage in striking at visitors, their 

 snouts were battered bare of skin and shields, smearing 

 the glass with blood at each blow. Evidently devoid 

 of pain in their rage and excitement, they were neces- 

 sarily removed from exhibition, whence they paid the 

 penalty for bad temper in making a meal for the pair 

 of cannibal King Cobras. 



Rather an exception among the Racers in displaying 

 a sharply-defined, blotched pattern is a north African 

 species, Z. diadema, shown in the series of illustrations. 

 The scales are glossy ; so vividly contrasted are the brown 

 and creamy hues, the pattern looks as if painted in 

 enamel. Fourteen adult examples arrived in a ship- 

 ment of African reptiles from the Cairo Zoological 

 Gardens. Though uniformly gentle when handled, 

 none could be induced to eat; young rats, mice, birds, 

 frogs, lizards and young snakes, everything on the 

 ophidian menu was offered, without a single response. 

 A suicidal fast, lasting over seven months, terminated 

 the life of the last survivor. 



The American Black Snake or Black Racer, Z. 

 constrictor , stands preeminent among serpents inhabit- 

 ing the United States. Contrary to the specific name, 

 this species never constricts the prey, but holds it firmly 

 to the ground under a portion of the body, deglutition 

 proceeding at the same time; the swallowing motions 

 of the jaws are quicker than with constricting snakes; 

 besides, the Black Snake generally feeds on animals of 

 smaller size in comparison with other snakes. 



Wonderfully agile, the Black Snake lurks in open, 

 rocky places, foraging for small rodents, birds, frogs 

 and the young of other snakes. It is not nearly so 

 courageous as is generally supposed, nor is it the enemy 



