258 REPTILES OF THE WORLD 



eastern portion of the United States, inhabiting the 

 coastal regions of South Carolina and Georgia ; in Flor- 

 ida it is most abundant, being found in all parts of the 

 state, thence ranging westward to Texas. This fine rep- 

 tile — the largest serpent of the eastern United States — 

 grows to a length of nine feet and is known as the 

 Gopher Snake or Indigo Snake, S. corais couperi, the 

 former title coming from a habit of seeking retreat when 

 pursued, in the burrow of the gopher tortoise ; the latter 

 name originates from the shining, blue-black of the en- 

 tire upper and under surface, except the chin and throat 

 — those portions are dull red. To see one of these glit- 

 tering brutes trailing its black length across a stretch 

 of pale sand is a startling spectacle, even to the seasoned 

 collector. 



In captivity the Gopher Snake becomes perfectly 

 tame, displaying what might be truthfully called affec- 

 tion in its toleration at being handled. The shining 

 scales of the back, and the polished plates of the ab- 

 domen, the latter as clean as glass and reflecting all the 

 prismatic colors, are points in strong opposition to the 

 popular idea of a serpent's "slimy" coat. This power- 

 fully-formed reptile is not a constrictor. Rats, birds, 

 toads, frogs and snakes are eaten; as the prey is being 

 swallowed it is held firmly to the ground under a por- 

 tion of the snake's body. 



In Texas and Mexico is a greenish phase of the 

 Gopher Snake. The typical form — the Cribo — occurs 

 in Central and tropical South America. On this, the 

 forward part of the body is olive, giving way to orange 

 yellow posteriorly. Over a considerable part of the 

 range the Cribo is recognized as a useful serpent, a repu- 

 tation bringing it comparative immunity from harm. 



Largest of the members of Spilotes, really one of the 



