76 COLUBER COUPERI. 
a little backwards. The eyes are large, with both pupil and iris black. The 
neck is contracted, but less so than in the Black Snake. The body is elongated, 
but stout, and covered above with very large, smooth, hexagonal scales, and with 
broad plates below. ‘The tail is of moderate length, and slender. 
Cotour. The head above is blue, or bluish-black; the throat is of a bluish- 
white colour, with blotches of reddish flesh-colour. The superior surface of the 
animal is of a deep, bright bluish-black, of a beautiful metallic lustre in the sun; 
the anterior part of the abdomen of a light bluish slate-colour; the posterior part 
is of a darkek shade, but of the same colour. hat ce 
a OW YA * 
Dimensions. Length of head, 2 inches, width, 18 lines; length of body, 75 
inches, circumference, 7 inches; length of tail, 12 inches. In this specimen there 
were 186 abdominal plates, with a single one before the vent; and 62 bifid caudal 
plates. This snake frequently exceeds eight feet in length arf individuals have 
been seen ten feet long. 
Hasits. J. Hamilton Couper, Esq. of St. Simon’s Island, Georgia, to whom J 
am indebted for a knowledge of this animal, says, “The Indigo Snake, or Gopher, 
combines strength and activity. Its movements are confined to the surface of 
the ground, in which they are free, and, for so large a snake, rapid. It is 
perfectly harmless, frequenting the neighbourhood of settlements, where it is 
usually unmolested, from its inoffensive character, and the prevalent belief that it 
destroys the Rattlesnake, which it attacks with courage. It is often found 
occupying the same hole with the Gopher (Testudo polyphemus), whence it 
receives one of its names. Although a harmless snake, it is a bold one, and 
when provoked, it faces its enemy with courage, vibrating its tail rapidly. It 
is, however, so mild in character that it may be domesticated; and an instance 
is mentioned of the negro children of a neighbouring plantation being in the 
habit of holding on to the tail of one whilst it wandered about the yard.” 
GrocrarnicaL Disrrisution. “I have only seen it in the dry pine hills, south 
