266 THE VIVARIUM. 
not deserve its name, for some writers affirm that they have 
repeatedly heard it make the strange un-snake-like sound; while 
others, who are very well acquainted with the animal, declare 
that they have never known it roar or make a noise which bears 
any resemblance to thunder. As there is an unusually large 
covering, so called, at the end of its glottis, probably the animal 
is capable of making more noise than most Ophidians of its size. 
However, the more I learn of Snakes, the more I am convinced 
of the necessity of exercising great caution in obtaining informa- 
tion concerning these strange and very interesting creatures. 
The Bull Snake is a native of North America and Mexico. It 
will eat small rats, mice, and sometimes eggs. Care must be 
taken in associating other Snakes with C. melanoleucus, for it is 
somewhat of a cannibal. It is very hardy and easily tamed, and 
may sometimes be bought for about £1. The Bull Snake can 
be kept in captivity under the same conditions which have been 
suggested for the care of the other hardy Colubers. 
The following is a brief description of this Snake: The snout 
slightly projects; the nostril is much deeper than it is broad ; 
the frontals are broken up into four shields and sometimes more ; 
and the parietals or occipitals are also broken up posteriorly ; the 
loreal is longer than it is broad; there is one pre-ocular, with 
occasionally a small sub-ocular beneath, and there are two or 
three post-oculars ; there are eight or nine upper labials, of which 
the fourth or fifth touch the eye; and five or six lower labials. 
The scales, which are strongly keeled on the back of the animal, 
are arranged in from twenty-nine to thirty-five rows, the ventrals 
number from 209 to 239, the sub-caudals are placed in. pairs 
from forty-five to sixty-five, and the anal scute is entire. 
The colour above is a lightish brown marked with a series 
of large, dark-brown, black-edged spots. There are smaller spots 
on the sides. 
The young have a dark band running across the head from eye 
to eye and another dark band running from each eye to the corner 
of the mouth. The labials have generally black divisions. The 
under parts are whitish, frequently spotted with brown. 
This Snake is said to sometimes exceed a length of Tft., of 
which the tail measures about one-seventh. (C. melanoleucus is 
