170 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. 



small. Postorbitals two, often three. Temporals 2-2 or 3-3. Upper 

 labials seven; third and fourth entering the eye, sixth and seventh 

 the largest. Lower labials eight, occasionally nine. Four lower labials, 

 in contact with the anterior chin shield, which is a little shorter than 

 the posterior; fifth the largest. 



Head distinct from the body. Eyes large. Snout moderately prom- 

 inent. Body long and slender. Dorsal rows seventeen, all smooth, 

 the outer rows as wide as long. Ventrals distinctly angular laterally. 

 170-185. Anal divided. Subcaudals 56-100 pairs. 



Color. — Color above uniform deep blue-black or olive-brown, slate- 

 gray or greenish white beneath. Lower jaws and chin, and sometimes 

 the edge of the upper labials, are often white. 



The colors of the young Black-snake are so different from those of 

 the adult that one would hardly suspect it to be the same species. 

 Instead of being of a uniform color above, they are much blotched and 

 spotted. There is a series of reddish-brown blotches with black bor- 

 ders along the middle of the back, but disappearing on the tail. These 

 blotches are separated by a whitish gray bar, and are about three 

 scales long, and reach down to the fourth row of scales on each side. 

 The sides are furnished with many specks and spots of brown. The 

 intervals between the spots are grayish or olive. The head is mottled 

 and speckled. Below the color is greenish-white, with three or four 

 specks of brown on each scale. Specimens over 450 mm. begin to as- 

 sume the colors of the adult. (Hay.) 



-Si^e. — Total length 1150 mm. Tail 290 mm. The largest one I ever 

 captured measured 2198 mm. 



Habitat. — Eastern United States, west to Kansas and 

 Texas, where they become rare. In Missouri it is found 

 everywhere in suitable localities. 



Habits. — The Blue Eacer was quite common some 

 twenty years ago in pastures, meadows and fields, but as 

 cultivation has advanced on these places their haunts have 

 been destroyed. Most farmers kill them when they find 

 them in their fields, although the Blue Eacer is the farm- 

 er's best friend in destroying rats, mice, moles, etc. Even 

 if they occasionally take a young chicken or an egg their 

 usefulness far outweighs this small damage. 



The name ''Eacer" is well given, as they certainly 

 slide away with great rapidity. As to their following a 

 frightened person I cannot testif}', but if one of them 

 is cornered it will defend itself with astonishing courage. 



