343 



observed it iu the water or on the immediate lake shore. It is often called 

 the pilot snake and is supposed to have some mysterious connection with 

 the rattlesnake. Though entirely harmless, it is one of the most viciously 

 disposed snakes. When provoked, as Dr. Hay observes, it shows its irri- 

 tation by vibrating the tip of its slender tail, which, when striking a 

 crumpled leaf or any other small object, may produce a rattling noise very 

 much like tbat made by a rattlesnake under similar circumstances. A 

 large example caught near Bass Lake August 14, bit Professor Wilson on 

 the hand, causing blood to flow freely but producing no serious effect. 



While entirely harmless, its habits are not unlike those of the black- 

 snake and it doubtless destroys many eggs and yoxing of ground-nesting 

 birds. Besides these, its food consists of mice and other small rodents, 

 the larger insects and their larva 3 . It probably feeds to some extent on 

 frogs and toads, but we have no evidence that it ever catches fish. 



This is a large, light brown snake, with squarish, chocolate-colored 

 blotches about 60 in number ; scales in 25 rows ; ventral plates 200 to 210 ; 

 vertical plate broader than long. 



7. Basc&nion constrictor flaviventris (Linmeus). 



13LTJE RACER. 



This common and familiar reptile, also known as the black snake or 

 black racer, is found pretty generally distributed throughout the eastern 

 United States and southward. It frequents open woodland, old fence rows 

 and all places where dead leaves are common. It is the largest of the 

 snakes of this region. It is an active, vigorous snake, moving over the 

 ground with great rapidity. It is not a coward, as are most snakes, but 

 will, on occasion, attack a person when disturbed, coming toward one 

 rapidly and with head raised one or two feet. Cope says "the constricting 

 power of the black snake is not sufficient to cause inconvenience to a man, 

 but might seriously oppress a child. The pressure exercised by a strong 

 individual wound round the arm is sufficient to compress and close the 

 superficial veins, and cause the muscles to ache, but it is easy to unwind 

 the snake with the free hand and arm." The black snake is harmless, 

 and its bite, which it rarely inflicts, only amounts to a serious scratch. 



The black snake is, in some respects, a useful species. Its food con- 

 sists chiefly of field mice, white-footed mice, and other noxious animals. 

 It also feeds upon frogs, toads, birds' eggs and young birds, and probably 

 does more harm than good. The greatest objection to it is its disposi- 



