280 THE VIVARIUM. 
are often marked with four-sided black spots or two black 
longitudinal lines. 
The entire length of the Bordeaux Snake is about 2ft., of which 
the tail measures one-sixth. This Snake is found in the south of 
France, Italy, Morocco, and Algeria. In captivity it may be treated 
and fed in the same way as suggested for C. levis. It will more 
frequently than its near relative take young mice. It is sometimes 
sold for the Smooth Snake, but it is not so hardy as that reptile. 
The King Snake (Coronella getula) is very beautiful, hardy, 
and easily tamed. It is a native of North America, and may be 
kept in this country during the summer without the help of 
artificial heat. It is usually a very ready feeder on rats, mice, 
birds, and small eggs. Without much difficulty it can be 
persuaded to take the animals when they are dead, and even dead 
Snakes. The dead creatures should be moved gently in front of 
the Reptile’s head, and generally it will at once seize and swallow 
them, that is to say if it be hungry. Smaller Snakes should not 
be kept with the King Snake, or it will very likely adopt the 
habits of the cannibal. The King Snake is said to do a great 
. deal of good by killing Rattlesnakes. Of this Snake, the rostral 
is broad; the vertical much longer than broad, but shorter than 
the parietals; the loreal is sometimes absent; there is one 
pree-ocular and there are two post-oculars, seven upper labials, of 
which the third and fourth touch the eye, and four lower ones. 
The scales are arranged in twenty-one or twenty-three rows, very 
rarely in nineteen; the ventrals number from 198 to 240; the 
sub-caudals are in from forty-one to sixty-five pairs, and the anal 
scute is undivided. 
This Snake is coloured very variously. The following is the 
description given by Mr. Boulenger in ‘‘ The Catalogue of 
Snakes’’: ‘‘ Dark brown or black above, with yellow or white mark. 
ings; labials and lower parts black and white or black and yellow. 
A. Above with small yellow spots, or narrow yellow transverse 
bands restricted to the back. (C. Sayi.) 
B. Above with yellow transverse bands connected with their 
fellows on the sides. (C. getula.) 
C. More or less complete whitish annuli round the body, 
widening on the belly. (C. ealifornie, C. Boylii.) ”’ 
