The Rat Snakes or Colubers 



Variations. As is the case with most of the Colubers, this 

 species displays a certain amount of variation, both in colour 

 and pattern, but not to a sufficient extent and constancy to 

 warrant the naming of distinct varieties. One sub-species 

 variety has been described,* but as specimens of intermediate 

 pattern are continually being found, it is unworthy of separate 

 recognition. At the time of compiling this description, the writer 

 has a living specimen representing this variety, before him. 

 The crimson saddles of the back are very large and the blotches 

 of the sides are so obscure that they can be made out only when 

 the light strikes the specimen at a certain angle. Some spec- 

 imens have a yellowish ground-colour and on these the crimson 

 blotches are in vivid contrast. The ground-colour varies from 

 pale red, into various shades of yellow, brown or gray. With 

 occasional specimens the blotches of the sides fuse into an irreg- 

 ular band. These phases of colouration do not affect the snake 

 to such an extent, however, that it varies materially or is difficult 

 to recognise. 



Dimensions. The average measurements are given: 



Total Length 51^ inches. 



Length of Tail 7^ " 



Greatest Diameter i " 



Width of Head jf " 



Length of Head if " 



Occasionally, though rarely, much larger specimens are 

 found. The writer took a specimen in South Carolina, that 

 measured a fraction of an inch over six feet in length. The body 

 was two inches in diameter, and the head very small for a snake 

 of this size barely one and a quarter inches in width. This 

 fine snake was found hiding in the interior of a decayed and hol- 

 low tree trunk that lay in a perfectly open, prairie-like area. 

 In the excitement of capture it disgorged a full-grown quail or 

 "Bob White." Although the bird did not greatly distend the 

 reptile's body, it appeared enormous in comparison with the 

 small head of the snake. 



Distribution. The Corn Snake is found from Maryland 

 (inclusive of the District of Columbia) westward to the Mississippi 



* Coluber guttatus sellatus, (Cope), Desc. Proc. U. S. National Mu- 

 seum, XI, 1888, p. 387. 



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