86 SERPENTS 



buildings are its favorite hunting-grounds for rats and mice. 

 It is fond of rats, and because of this is considered a useful 

 ally of the southern farmer, by whom it is often called the 

 RAT SNAKE. (Raymond L. Ditmars.) 



This serpent is courageous, but not particularly aggressive. 

 Its food consists of rats, birds, eggs, small rodents and warm- 

 blooded creatures generally. In South Carolina, Mr. Dit- 

 mars captured a specimen which but a few minutes pre- 

 viously had finished swallowing a bob-white. 



The home of this interesting and beautiful serpent is 

 practically the same as that of the king snake along the 

 Atlantic coast from Maryland to Florida, and westward 

 through the Gulf states to Arkansas. This snake is an egg- 

 layer. 



THE GOPHER SNAKE 1 is our representative of the rat- 

 snakes of South America and India, that make a business of 

 catching rats in and around dwellings and out-buildings. 

 In the South, it is often called the "BLACK SNAKE" be- 

 cause it is black; but when it is particularly well polished, 

 it takes on a gun-barrel blue appearance, when it is also 

 called the INDIGO SNAKE. 



This is a large and showy serpent, often attaining 8 feet 

 in length, very docile and good-natured, and easily tamed. 



At Oak Lodge, Florida, we once saw a very large wild 

 Gopher Snake emerge from the saw-palmetto jungle, and 

 crawl directly toward the house. When Mrs. Latham was 

 informed, she cried out reassuringly, "Oh, that is my pet 

 snake! It keeps the place clear of rats." Forthwith she 



1 Spi-lo'tcs co'ra-is cou'per-ii. 



