89 
THE PINE SNAKE, 
“The largest of our common snakes, my 
Fritz, is the pine snake or bull snake, as it is 
called in some localities. This snake attains 
a length of over six feet; it has a stout, strong 
body. 
The general color of the pine snake—Pityo- 
phis molanoleucus—is yellowish white. The 
scales of the back anteriorly are well spattered 
with brown; posteriorly these brown markings 
are developed into spots and bands Along 
the glistening white sides are irregular rhom- 
boidal blotches and spots of brown and slate 
color. ‘The underside is yellowish white with 
slate color blotches. 
The head of the pine snake is ungraceful, 
with thick neck. The tail is about one-seventh 
the total length of the body and it terminates 
in a peculiar horny point. The scales of the 
back are pointed and keeled, while along the 
sides they are smooth. 
The pine snake derives its name from its 
natural habitat, the ‘ pine barrens.’ The ‘ pine 
hawkers’ or charcoal burners give it the name 
of bull snake and declare that it ‘ bellows like 
a bull’ at certain seasons; this assertion is not 
satisfactorily authentivated, yet it hisses vi- 
ciously when irritated. 
This snake is slow in its movements and of 
equable temper, thus it can be readily handled 
if not abused. When tormented it hisses furi- 
