64 _ HETERODON NIGER. 
very large. The anterior orbital plates are four in number, and nearly quadri- 
lateral; the superior is largest. There are four inferior orbital and three posterior 
orbital, all quadrilateral. The upper jaw has eight lateral plates, all quadrilateral, 
and increasing in size to the seventh, which is the largest. 
The nostrils are large, lateral, and near the snout. The eyes are large, the 
pupil black, the iris very dark gray. ‘The neck is the size of the head, and 
covered with carinated scales. 
The body is elongated, but short, thick, and rounded above, flattened at the 
abdomen, covered above with larger scales than those of the neck; these are 
carinated, but less distinctly than those of the Heterodon platirhinos. The tail is 
long, small, cylindrical, and pointed at the tip. 
Cotour. The colour above is uniformly black; below it is whitish at the 
throat, and bluish slate-colour on the abdomen and tail. 
Dimensions. Length of head, 1 inch 3 lines; breadth of head, when not 
flattened, 9 lines; length of body, 153 inches; length of tail, 43 inches; circum- 
ference of body, 3 inches 2 lines. 
Hasirs. The Heterodon niger has similar habits to the Heterodon platirhinos, 
but in general it seems to choose drier places for its abode, and are not 
uncommon in the pine barren districts. It has the same power of flattening the 
head and neck, and “threatening with a horrid hiss;” its dark colour, its sinister 
look and menacing attitude, have led to the common belief of its being a 
venomous snake. Even Catesby represents it as “haying the like fangs of 
destruction as the Rattlesnake.” It is, however, a harmless snake, feeding on 
smaller reptiles, insects, Wc. 
GrocrapnicaL Distrinution. The Heterodon niger is rarely found as far 
north as Pennsylvania, but is one of the most common snakes in the lower part 
