52 BULLETIN 114, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



it wanted a name, the best I could think of was that of Chain-Snake, 

 from some resemblance to a chain that seems in many cases to en- 

 viron the body." Shaw (1802, 467-468) says: ''This snake is found 

 in Carolina, Virgmia, etc., frequenting moist woods and shady places, 

 and preying on lizards, etc." DeKay says of it (1842, 37): ''Not 

 uncommon in the pine woods of New Jersey, and is also found but 

 rarely in what are called the Brush Plains of Long Island." Ditmars 

 says v/ith reference to habitat (1907, 359): ''Specimens captured by 

 the writer were in rather dry patches of timber; some were taken 

 while basking in the sun of small glades in tiie forest; others were 

 found hiding under fallen tree trunks." Dunn has taken numerous 

 examples in Nelson County, Virginia, in hay fields, near creeks, and 

 about farm buildings. Some of these would resent handling at first 

 by chewing at hand or arm, but usually they were perfectly tame 

 from the first. Wright says, for the Okefinokee Swamp (1915, 

 168-169): "Thirteen specimens of this fine snake v/ere taken and 

 many more seen. It is common throughout the drier parts of the 

 swamp and frequents the outskirts of the swamp as well. It keeps 

 to the islands and none were taken in other situations than the saw 

 palmetto or heath societies of the piney woods where it courses 

 through the low cover after its living prey or eggs. This species is 

 one of the most strikingly marked snakes of the swamp. The shining 

 black or brown with the contrasting white or yellow cross-bands 

 makes its appearance very attractive. In nature, it is mild, proves 

 an interesting and safe pet, and in no instance during our stay in the 

 swamp did it display any belligerency or suUenness toward any 

 member of the party." 



This is a large, powerful, and fearless snake. It does not appear 

 to be secretive or to avoid an encounter. In fact (Ditmars, 1907, 

 360-361), "besides the promptings of its appetite this snake exhibits 

 a pugnacious interest in other serpents that may be considerably 

 larger than itself, engaging these creatures in a duel to the death, 

 during which, however, they are able to make but little resistance, 

 when encircled by the wonderfully strong constricting coils of the 

 enemy." Although sometimes (Ditmars, 1907, 363) "when first 

 caught, they strike vigorously, emitting a short hiss which sounds 

 more like a sneeze," they are frequently perfectly gentle and un- 

 afraid from the beginning. In fact, Loennberg (1894, 324-325) 

 writes that "when caught they never tried to bite, only one opened 

 its mouth, but they wind themselves round one's arm, showing 

 great muscular strength." For observation in capti^ity they are 

 probably the most desirable of all the North American snakes. 



They feed upon other snakes, lizards, birds, and small rodents. 

 In this latter respect and because they are always victorious in an 

 encounter with a venomous snake, they are very useful to the agri- 



