388 NATURE-STUDY REVIEW [15:9— Dec, 1919 



the swallowing of objects four or five times the diameter of the neck. 

 Since the snake is such a very long animal it has to have a very 

 large ntimber of vertebrae, some have over 400 ; they also have a 

 large number of ribs. 



The tail of the blacksnake is a very important part of its body, it 

 is very long; this is a fact although from its general appearance one 

 cannot tell where the body leaves off and the tail begins. It is all 

 behind the true ribs, but as they are not visible, one would say it 

 is all behind the abdominal scutes, which form a single row of broad 

 scales. The blacksnake's tail helps it to move rapidly, since it 

 braces itself with the tail when it runs. 



The whole body of the blacksnake, head, body and tail are 

 covered with scales, which are "smooth and satiny." They act as 

 a splendid protection against obstacles in rapid movement. The 

 adults are uniform slaty black above and beneath, the chin and 

 throat are milky-white. The extent of the white varies with speci- 

 mens from different localities. Those in the southern states have 

 a good deal more of white than those in the northern states. The 

 young are pale gray with large brown blotches on the back and 

 numerous black spots on the sides. The second summer these 

 markings become less distinct, and the third year they are entirely 

 black. 



The blacksnake is very quick in its motions, darting to a place 

 of safety the minute it sees anyone. It is not a constrictor. 



The blacksnake lays about a dozen eggs in June or July, usually 

 under a stone or in moist soil. These eggs are elongated and 

 cylindrical in shape. They are • snow-white and with a tough, 

 leathery shell. These eggs grow before the young hatch. Ditmars 

 gives an example, where the eggs were i J^" long and H" i^^ diameter 

 when laid on July 16. July 20 they were 2" long and J^" in diame- 

 ter. August 15, increased in size, especially in diameter, becoming 

 globular rather than cylindrical. They hatched on September 4th. 

 The little snakes were 8^" long and 1^" in diameter. 



The blacksnake is wary and escapes from its enemies by its very 

 rapid running to some place of safety; it belongs to the Racers and 

 lives up to the reputation of its family by moving with lightening- 

 like rapidity. It can go in very small openings, as well as being 

 a very quick and agile climber. 



