90 SERPENTS 



The length of this snake, when adult, varies from 40 to 

 58 inches. 



The Coach-Whip Snake' is closely related to the pre- 

 ceding species (both being members of the same genus), and 

 has similar habits. It is even more slender than the black 

 snake. Its standard color is, toward the head, black or light 

 yellowish-brown, fading out rapidly backward, until the tail 

 becomes nearlj^ white. But these colors vary exceedingly 

 in widely separated localities. 



This is a southern snake, and extends from Florida quite 

 across the continent to California. In the far Southwest, its 

 colors are so much suffused with pinkish it becomes the Red 

 Racer {Zamenis flagellum fre-na'tuin). 



The Garter Snake,- our oldest and most familiar friend 

 among the snakes, is as harmless as a house-fly, and any 

 one who exerts himself to crush one simplj^ makes a pitiful 

 exhibition of ignorance and folly. This is the most prolific 

 and generally abundant snake in North America, and no 

 amount of persecution seems to diminish its numbers to any 

 noticeable degree. During the month of March, 1903, about 

 450 specimens were collected in and around the Zoological 

 Park. 



This serpent is viviparous, and sometimes forty-five are 

 born in one brood. Out of a brood of thirty-eight born in 

 our Reptile House, there was one double-headed specimen 

 and three albinos. The standard length of this snake is 

 from 24 to 30 inches, and one 36 inches long is a large speci- 

 men. Of the genus to which the Garter Snake belongs, 



^ Za-vie'nis fla-gel'lum. ''■ Eu-tae'ni-a sir-tal'w. 



