343 
observed it in the water or on the immediate lake shore. It is often called 
the pilot snake and is supposed to have some mysterious connection with 
the rattlesnake. Though entirely harmless, it is one of the most viciously 
disposed snakes. When provoked, as Dr. Hay observes, it shows its irri 
tation by vibrating the tip of its slender tail, which, when striking a 
crumpled leaf or any other small object, may produce a rattling noise very 
much like that made by a rattlesnake under similar circumstances. <A 
large example caught near Bass Lake August 14, bit Professor Wilson on 
the hand, causing blood to flow freely but producing no serious effect. 
While entirely harmless, its habits are not unlike those of the black- 
snake and it doubtless destroys many eggs and young of ground-nesting 
birds. Besides these, its food consists of mice and other small rodents, 
the larger insects and their larye. It probably feeds to some extent on 
frogs and toads, but we have no evidence that it ever catches fish. 
This is a large, light brown snake, with squarish, chocolate-colored 
blotches about 60 in number; scales in 25 rows; ventral plates 200 to 210; 
vertical plate broader than long. 
id 
7. Bascanion constrictor flaviventris (Linnweus). 
BLUE RACER. 
This common and familiar reptile, also known as the black snake or 
black racer, is found pretty generally distributed throughout the eastern 
United States and southward. It frequents open woodland, old fence rows 
and all places where dead leaves are common. It is the largest of the 
snakes of this region. It is an active, vigorous snake, moving over the 
ground with great rapidity. It is not a coward, as are most snakes, but 
will, on occasion, attack a person when disturbed, coming toward one 
rapidly and with head raised one or two feet. Cope says “the constricting 
power of the black snake is not sufficient to cause inconvenience to a man, 
but might seriously oppress a child. The pressure exercised by a strong 
individual wound round the arm is sufficient to compress and close the 
superficial veins, and cause the muscles to ache, but it is easy to unwind 
the snake with the free hand and arm.” The black snake is harmless, 
and its bite, which it rarely inflicts, only amounts to a serious scratch. 
The black snake is, in some respects, a useful species. Its food con- 
sists chiefly of field mice, white-footed mice, and other noxious animals. 
It also feeds upon frogs, toads, birds’ eggs and young birds, and probably 
does more harm than good. The greatest objection to it is its disposi- 
