1 66 ECONOMIC ZOOLOGY 



is found in the South Atlantic and Gulf States, where its value as a 

 ratter is often recognized; it is encouraged to live about barns and out- 

 houses and is regarded almost as a pet. 



The Blacksnake or Black Racer, Z. Constrictor, Fig. 108, is a dull 

 rather than a glossy black, has a white instead of a reddish throat, 

 and has smooth not keeled scales. It is fairly slender and may reach 

 a length of 7 feet, possibly more. It is not a constrictor. According to 

 Nelson "They frequently pursue people when they retreat, but retreat 

 themselves when the person pursues them." It is abundant east of the 

 Mississippi; further west it is replaced by the Blue Racer, variety 

 flamventriSj with similar habits. This species is of great value to 

 agriculture as a destroyer of destructive rodents, but in spite of this 

 it is very generally killed by farmers and others just "because it is a 

 snake." 



The Rat Snakes. Genus Coluber. These so-called Rat or Chicken 

 Snakes are usually large, and since they feed on warm-blooded animals 

 most of them are of value to man as destroyers of rodents, though 

 some destruction of birds is caused by some species. 



The Fox Snake or Red-headed Coluber, C. vulpinus, named from 

 the fox-like odor of newly captured specimens, is a fairly large, brownish, 

 spotted snake found throughout the Central States, where it is of 

 distinct value to agriculture as a destroyer of rodents; since it often 

 seeks its prey in the vicinity of barns it is sometimes called the House 

 Snake. 



Emory's Coluber or Spotted Chicken Snake, C. emoryi, is another 

 useful Coluber found in the states west of the Mississippi, from Kansas 

 south. 



The Red Coluber, C. guttatus, called variously the Corn, Red 

 Chicken, Mouse, or House Snake, is a fairly large snake inhabiting 

 the states south of Pennsylvania and east of the Mississippi. Its 

 pale red back, with crimson saddles, and its white belly with large 

 black squares, make it easy to recognize. It is useful as a destroyer 

 of rodents. 



The Black Coluber or Pilot Blacksnake. C. obsoletus. This, snake 

 may reach a length of 8 feet or over and is frequently confused 

 with the Common Blacksnake or Racer, from which it may be distin- 

 guished by its keeled and polished scales. It is found practically all 

 over the states east of the Mississippi and into Texas, and is a useful 



