The Rat Snakes or Colubers 



On the forward portion of the body the abdomen is white 

 irregularly blotched and peppered with gray; on the latter por- 

 tion the abdomen is uniform, dark gray. 



Dimensions. — Total Length 4 feet, 9! inches. 



Length of Tail 11 



Greatest Diameter 1 1 " 



Width of Head i 



Length of Head i J 



Distribution. — The variety occurs from Virginia to Florida 

 (inclusive) in the East and is quite common in North and South 

 Carolina. It extends westward to the eastern boundary of 

 Kansas and occurs in Arkansas and eastern Texas. 



Habits. — Like the Pilot Blacksnake. 



THE FOUR-BANDED COLUBER; BANDED CHICKEN 



SNAKE; YELLOW CHICKEN SNAKE; YELLOW 



RAT SNAKE; STRIPED HOUSE SNAKE 



Coluber obsoleius, variety quadrivittatus, (Holbrook) 



This snake attains a length of six and seven feet, but its 

 body is more slender than that of the typical form. 



Colouration. — Bright yellow, pale brown or olive, with four 

 dark brown or black stripes — two on the back and one on each 

 side of the body. 



The stripes on the sides are usually the width of two rows 

 of scales; those on the back slightly wider than the one row of 

 scales they cover. 



The preceding description appeals only io the adult snake. 

 With the young Four-banded Coluber, we have an admirable 

 example of one of a number of species of serpents that undergo 

 a complete colour transformation while attaining maturity. 



Upon hatching, a snake of this variety exhibits a vivid 

 pattern, and like that of the adult of the Gray Coluber — Coluber 

 obsoleius, variety confinis. From this pale gray phase, with dark 

 brown blotches it gradually transforms into a yellow snake, 

 with longitudinal stripes. 



Growth and Colour Transition. — One of a freshly deposited 

 batch of eggs from a snake of this kind measures 1} inches in 

 length, and | of an inch in diameter. It weighs exactly i dram 

 and 47 grains. (Fig. Batch of Eggs, with rule.) Before 



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