56 The American Naturalist. (January, 
drainage, that creek goes entirely dry in the summer and they are, I 
think, entirely extinct.—ANoaus GAINES. 
List of Snakes Observed at Raleigh, N. C.—1. Ancistrodon 
contortrix. Copperhead. Rather common here in the wet meadows, 
although universally known and recognized as the “ Highland Mocca- 
2. Ancistrodon piscivorus. Our only specimen of the “ Cotton- 
mouth ” was killed on Neuse River in the summer of 1891, and in 
bulk was one of the largest snakes we ever killed here. The length 
was, I think, 40 inches, although I have unfortunately lost the data 
connected with it. 
3. Heterodon platyrhinus. “Spreading Adder.” Common; the 
black variety is quite rare. 
4. Ophibolus getulus. “King Snake.’ Common; feeds largely 
and I think usually, on other snakes, even its own species. I forced 
one to disgorge a meadow mouse a few weeks ago, otherwise its record 
of snakes for food is unbroken in my experience. It is popularly sup- 
posed to be excessively venomous and is also alleged by some to have 
a sting in its tail which it uses when angry. 
5. Ophibolus doliatus. Rather rare; the specimens we get here 
agree in color with vars. syspilus and coccineus. 
6. Ophibolus rhombomaculatus. Rather rare. Feeds on rats and 
mice judging from the few stomachs examined. Large specimens 
have the markings very obscure, being nearly uniform in color above. 
Our largest recorded specimen measures 42 inches. 
7. Cemophora coccinea. Rare. 
8. Bascanium constrictor, the Black Snake, is quite common here 
and isthe most courageous of our snakes, freqnently standing its 
ground and fiercely striking at an intruder. It occasionally, at least, 
eats other snakes. 
9. Coluber obsoletus. “Chicken Snake.” Not very common. This 
is the snake most frequently found ascending trees here and so it pre- 
sumably feeds more on birds than any other. It is also the largest. 
(longest) of our snakes, our largest recorded specimen measuring 74 
inches. : 
10. Coluber guttatus. Quite rare here, only two specimens so far 
collected. 
11. Cyelophis estivus. Quite common, particularly in bushes in 
the low grounds. For some unexplained reason it is popularly consid- — 
ered as extremely venomous. 
