248 THE VIVARIUM. 
numbering from 187 to 208, from 95 to 140 pairs of sub-caudals, 
and an anal scute which is divided. It is brown, olive, or silvery 
above, the scales having darker margins. There are often black 
crossbands on the tail and latter half of the body. ‘fhe young 
frequently possess transverse, light streaks on the fore part of 
their body. The under-surfaces are yellow. This reptile some- 
times exceeds a length of 7ft., of which the tail measures nearly 
one-third. It is common in India and Ceylon, and is also found 
in Afghanistan, Burmah, South China, Java, and the Malay Pen- 
insula. It can be bought, as a rule, here for sums ranging 
between 15s. and £3. It requires artificial heat constantly, and 
it should be fed upon rats, mice, and frogs. 
There is a species, Z. korros, very closely allied to Z. 
mucosus, which may be kept under the same conditions as its 
near relative. It chiefly differs from Z. mucosus in the possession 
of smoother scales, two loreals in the place of three (generally), 
in being of a smaller size, and in the scales being placed in fifteen 
rows instead of seventeen. It is a native of the East Indian 
Archipelago, Siam and Southern China. 
The Black Snake (Zamenis constrictor, Boulenger, or Corypho- 
don constrictor, Dum. and Bibr.) is not only a very beautiful 
reptile, but also one of the most active animals in existence. For 
the latter reason it is sometimes called the ‘‘ Racer’; this name, 
however, is assigned as well to other Snakes. Z. constrictor is 
very useful to man as a destroyer of rats and mice, yet man, as a 
rule, does not recognise his obligation, but slays the poor beast at 
the first opportunity. It is said that this creature is a determined 
enemy of the Rattlesnake. One observer and naturalist, Dr. 
Elliot Coues, records that he saw a ‘‘Racer” (Z. constrictor) 
throw with extraordinary quickness two coils round the body of 
a Rattlesnake, one coil near the victim’s head, the other near the 
tail, and then, by forcibly stretching its own body, literally tear 
its adversary in halves. This Snake should certainly be preserved 
instead of being killed whenever met with. It is generally a quiet 
reptile while in captivity, though now and then a specimen may 
be met with which is persistently spiteful. The ‘‘ Racer’ will 
eat mice, rats, small birds, and sometimes eggs, which it swallows 
whole. It may occasionally be bought here for 15s. 
