meer IILES OF THE VICINITY OF NEW VORK CITY 103 
Black Snake is of value in the woods and fields, since its appetite 
craves the smaller mammals which are a menace to the agri- 
culturist. The average length of adult specimens is between 
five and six feet. 
Range: The entire United States and southern portions of 
Canada.* 
Local distribution: General, in rocky localities. 
FIG. 9. PILOT BLACKSNAKE 
The Pilot Blacksnake; Mountain Blacksnake, Coluber obso- 
letus (Fig. 9), attains the greatest length of any of the snakes 
embraced in the present list. This species is a power- Pilot 
ful constrictor, and is the northern representative of Blacksnake. 
the large and brilliantly-colored Rat Snakes of the South. 
To the novice this serpent might appear similar to the pre- 
ceding species. This similarity, however, applies only to color. 
Unlike the Black Snake or Racer, the scales are polished and 
the body presents a metallic, shining appearance instead of a 
satiny luster. 
t The typical (black) form inhabits the Eastern States; a variety of lighter 
color frequents the Middle States; in the Western States is the variety called 
the Green Racer (B. constrictor flaviventris). 
