The Racers 



In the South, it is no rare sight to see one of these large 

 snakes ghding about the immediate vicinity of the dwellings 

 that are removed from the larger towns. In such places the 

 reptiles are regarded as good ratters. Some specimens will 

 remain for years in a certain small area of a plantatio i, or in the 

 vicinity of the stables, and are almost daily picked up by the 

 children or their elders, who regard them as pets. Such reptiles, 

 accustomed to the sight of man, are devoid of fear and rather 

 seem to enjoy the process of being handled. 



The yellow rat snake, or "cribo" of the West Indies and 

 tropical South America, of which species the Indigo Snake is 

 but a northern variety, displays a similar good nature and enjoys 

 the same toleration from mankind. The closely allied rat snakes 

 of India are generally protected, on account of their usefulness 

 in destroying vermin, but are diabolical in temper and usually 

 remain untamable in captivity. 



The Indigo Snake is oviparous. Its eggs equal those of a 

 bantam in size. 



The Genus Zamenis: The snakes of this genus are closely 

 allied to the species of Spiloies. They kill their prey in the same 

 fashion — not by constriction, but by pressing the animal firmly 

 to the ground, deglutition proceeding at the same time. 



THE BLACKSNAKE; BLACK RACER 

 Zamenis constrictor, (Linn.) 



Form moderately slender; tail very long. Head but mod- 

 erately distinct from the neck; the eyes large. Scales smooth 

 and satiny. 



Colouration. — Adult specimens are uniform, slaty black 

 above and beneath — the chin and throat milky-white. 



The amount of white upon the chin and throat differs con- 

 siderably with individuals. It exists to the greater extent on 

 specimens from the Southern States, extending some distance 

 along the throat and covering a considerable portion of the upper 

 lip plates. On specimens from Connecticut, New York, New 

 Jersey and Pennsylvania, the white is usually confined to the 

 chin, and in some instances is to be seen on only a few of the 

 chin plates. 



Colouration of the Young. — The young of this species are 



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