IG THE i>XXKES OF THE MARITIME PROVINCES OF CANADA. 



from which latter Baird and Girard separated all the North 

 American Colubrida?, placing them in the gruup Bnncanium, 

 which, according to Cope, is lacking in definiteness and in- 

 cludes forms which may be generically different. 



B. constrictor has an immense range, extending from the At- 

 lantic to the Pacific, and from Mexico to British Columbia, ard 

 like all widely distributed species varying greatly within its 

 range. In the east. and with us, it is known as the Black Snake, 

 though seldom met with of that colour, the prevailing one being 

 a dull brown, when it is not easily distinguished at sight from 

 many of our Garter Snakes. For some time after shedding the 

 e|)idermis it may be nearly black, but the colours soon fade. 



Body long and robust; head well detined by the con.'T^tricted 

 neck. -Superior labials seven, inferior labials eight; gastrosteges 

 about one hundred and eighty, urosteges ninety; scales in seven- 

 teen longitudinal series, smooth and thin, without carinpe; max- 

 imum length about five feet. 



It is rare in Eastern Canada. The writer did nut find it on 

 Prince Edward Island, though popularly reputed to occur, nor 

 in southern Nova Scotia, but Harry Piers reptats two or three 

 specimens known from the vicinity of Halifax. In New Bruns- 

 wick, the writer has found it only on the shores of certain lakes 

 in the valley of the upper St. John, where it attains a length of 

 five feet. In other i^arts of the province he h:is often heard 

 farmers and others speak of seeing the Black Snake, but indus- 

 trious search failed Lo find any though Gaiters were seen. He 

 is, therefore, convinced that sirt dis is often mistaken for con- 

 strictor, and that the latter is very rare. This species, like L. 

 vernalis, should be sought for in the vicinity of water, and espec- 

 ially on the shores of lakes, where it may be seen coiled on a 

 log or other object lodged near the hank, or around a hush or 

 small tree overhanging the water. When disturbed it plunges 

 in, dives, and comes up in a safe place. From its fondness for 

 the vicinity of water and the readiness with which it plunges 

 into that element, it would seem a3 if it derived mr.ch of its 

 food from that source. Mice, shrews, moles, and l)ir(rs eggs and 

 voung are its chief diet, but fish and batrachians also are likelv 



