254 REPTILES OF THE WORLD 



to stubborn supposition, they are not constrictors. All 

 are oviparous. As a rule, they are vicious and untam- 

 able. Among the structural points we may mention the 

 large eyes, elongated tail and divided anal plate. 



The Indian Rat Snake, Z. mucosus, familiar in 

 southern Asia, the Malay Peninsula and Java, may be 

 taken as a typical Old World species. Eight-foot spec- 

 imens represent the maximum length. Imparting an 

 emaciated look, the back rises as a sharp ridge for the 

 entire length of the body. Uniform pale olive or brown- 

 ish, sometimes with dark transverse blotches on the pos- 

 terior part of the body, forms the prevailing coloration. 

 The popular name comes from a useful habit, this spe- 

 cies preying largely upon rodents. Over a considerable 

 portion of the range there is a sensible inclination to 

 protect it from the slaughter waged among harmless 

 snakes, and in several parts of India a fine is imposed 

 for the killing of Rat Snakes. 



As a captive, the average Rat Snake resents all 

 attempts at familiarity by a curious habit, this in oppo- 

 sition to the actions of the great majority of Colubrine 

 snakes. It rears the head and neck slightly, then flattens 

 the latter vertically; in this position it hesitates for a few 

 seconds, strikes wickedly at the annoyer for a distance 

 of fully a third the length and, finding the bluff without 

 result, dashes away. Against the glass of the cage it 

 may blindly rush, thumping the snout painfully, when 

 it throws itself into an hysterical coil, again flattening 

 the neck in an endeavor to look as formidable as the 

 slender body will permit. Nervousness so controls the 

 majority of captives, they cannot be induced to eat 

 unless the keeper veritably stalks to the cage, drops in 

 the most tempting of morsels — a very young rat or a 

 bird out of the nest — then makes a stealthy retreat. 



