The King Snakes 



but a varietal name would be inappropriate as every degree of 

 connecting variations may be found in a large series of speci- 

 mens. 



This is a beautiful species. The scales of the back are 

 polished and those of the abdomen glassy and lustrous, the latter 

 reflecting, on specimens that have recently cast their skins, ail 

 the prismatic colours. 



Dimensions. — This form of the King Snake is one of the 

 largest of the North American serpents. In Florida, specimens 

 of 6 feet in length are not of rare occurrence. From southern 

 New Jersey to North Carolina, the average length of an adult 

 specimen is from 3^ to 4 feet. The measurements given repre- 

 sent a fairly large specimen from the Southern States: 



Total Length 60 inches. 



Length of Tail 8J " 



Greatest Diameter i J 



Width of Head J " 



Length of Head 1 1 



Distribution. — With its varieties, this King Snake ranges over 

 the entire United States south of latitude 40°. 



The range of the present (typical) form is from the pine 

 regions of southern New Jersey to Florida and westward to the 

 Mississippi River. It is most abundant in the southern Atlantic 

 Coast region. 



While several zoological works have alleged that the 

 King Snake occurs in southern New York — records being cited 

 from Long island, the writer doubts the accuracy of these state- 

 ments. 



Habits of the King Snake. 



One of the most striking in pattern of the American snakes, 

 extremely docile in disposition and displaying habits that render 

 it highly useful to man in his agricultural pursuits, this serpent 

 might be said to rank first in attractiveness of the various ophidian 

 species embraced by this work, or to share that position with the 

 fine Indigo Snake of similar habitat. 



Of several species of the genus Ophibolus, all of which have 

 been described as possessing cannibalistic habits, the King 

 Snake displays this character to the strongest degree— in fact to 

 such an extent that besides the promptings of its appetite this 



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