The Rat Snakes or Colubers 



Total Length 5 feet 2 inches. 



Length of Tail 12 



Greatest Diameter i^ " 



Width of Head i J " 



Length of Head if " 



Distribution. The southeastern United States, from eastern 

 North Carolina southward throughout Florida, and westward, 

 in the South, to the Mississippi. The majority of specimens are 

 found in the coastal region, and the variety is particularly abun- 

 dant in South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. The largest spec- 

 imens come from Florida. 



Habits of the Chicken Snake 



This snake is quite arboreal in habits. The writer has ob- 

 served specimens at a considerable height, in large, live-oak 

 trees. The majority of the specimens captured were in trees 

 or among the rafters of cabins. One was discovered coiled in a 

 hollow of a live-oak formed by an abrupt forking of the larger 

 branches. This fork in the tree was fully twelve feet from the 

 ground, while the trunk of the tree was straight and smooth 

 for this distance without visible means for the snake to ascend 

 from the ground. The tree was isolated from others and the 

 discovery of the snake was incidental to a search for a mocking 

 bird's nest a ladder having been placed against the trunk as a 

 means of ascent. Another specimen was seen lying stretched 

 upon a branch at least twenty-five feet from the ground. When 

 pebbles and chips were tossed at the snake, it retreated along 

 the branch to the trunk, which was of considerable diameter, 

 and there glided quickly into a hollow. This snake was seen 

 frequently, sunning upon the same branch. A large snake caught 

 by the writer's guide, was crossing the moist ground of a cypress 

 swamp, which had the reputation of being the lurking place of 

 huge Chicken Snakes. Several other specimens of large size 

 were taken there. All were prowling on the surface of the swamp. 



The species often makes its abode in the rafters of stables 

 or poultry sheds. In such places it finds an abundance of mice 

 or rats, thougli it does not hesitate to devour young chickens, or 

 six to eight eggs, swallowing them entire, but as the eggs 

 pass about fourteen inches down the reptile's neck that portion 

 of the body is pressed against the ground and by a strong and 



3" 



