688 REPTILES — COLUBRID^. 



This variety differs from the typical Seterodon platyrhinus by being of a uniform black 

 or browQ above, v?ithout spots, and having a slate colored abdomen. 



Habitat, ConLeotiout, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee. 

 In the State, Dr. Kirtland reports it as having been found at Legionville and the Ohio 

 hills. 



The Black Viper is apparently more ferocious than the typical 

 'ph.tyrhinus. When disturbed it flattens its head, hisses, throws its 

 mouth wide open, giving it the appearance of a dislocated lower jaw 

 (which remains fixed for some time), and darts at the object. If unable 

 thus to frighten away its foes, and is in turn a little roughly treated, 

 such as being pushed with a stick, it will feign death, as was observed 

 by Troost and also by Prof. Sfceere of Michigan University. The former 

 of these gentlemen was so far deceived that he laid down his snake for a 

 short time, when it made its escape, and was found again with diffi- 

 culty. He also found in one which ho dissected twenty-five oval eggs, 

 each three-quarters of an inch long, and without a calcareous cover. 



Gknos PITYOPHIS. Holbrook. 



Body rather long and moderately slender; htad elongated; teeth equal, smooth ; 

 oepLajio plates not noimal ;,rottral high, piojscting forwards in some species; pre- 

 frontals two ; poslfrontals four or five ; nasals two ; loral small ; anteorbitals one or two ; 

 postoibitals three or four ; dorsal scales in 2.5 to 35 rows, middle ones slightly car- 

 iuatod ; gastcosteges 2i0-i44 ; urosteges 44-72 ; post-abdominal soutella entire. 



Dorsal scales in 29 rows. ... .... P. mblanoledcus. 



Dorsal soa.'es in 39 rows ; extralimital. P. SAYI. 



PxTYGPHis MBLANOLKUcus Daudin. 



Pine or IJnll Snake. 



Cohtter melanoleucua, Daddin, Harlan, 



Fituox>M8 mdanohucus, T'olbrooe, Baird and Gieakd, Ddmbril and Bibron, Gunthbr, 

 Cope, .Jordan. 



General color white to yellowish, with a dorsal series of laige chestnut blotches, 

 Trhich are margined with bla.ck ; abdomen nnioolor, with sides irregularly mottled; ver- 

 tical p'ate Bub-pentagoual ; pobttionlals four, the internal pair sub-triangular, external 

 polygonal ; upper labials 8, lower 14 ; nostrils two, vertically oblong ; rostral convex, 

 projecting forwards and reaching to the internal ].03t-frontals behind; tail about one- 

 seventh of total length ; urosteges 60-65 ; gastrofcteges 215-230 ; dorsal scales in 29 rows. 

 Length, 4 feit ; tail 84 inches. 



"'■itat. New Jersey, South Carolina and Florida, to Ohio. 



Rare in the State. Usually, if not always, the Bull Snake is found in pine 

 woods. It lays from seven to twelve eggs in July, and prior to oviposi- 

 tion the female is very irritable. They emit an odor which is believed 

 to be of use in attracting the opposite sex.* 



*For habits of this animal see Am. Naturalist, Jan., 1875, p. 1. 



