REPTILES OF THE VICINITY OF NEW YORK CITY 103 



Black Snake is of value in the woods and fields, since its appetite 

 craves the smaller mammals which are a menace to the agri- 

 culturist. The average length of adult specimens is between 

 five and six feet. 



Range: The entire United States and southern portions of 

 Canada." 



Local distribution: General, in rocky localities. 



FIG. 9. PILOT BLACKSNAKE 



The Pilot Blacksnake; Mountain Blacksnake, Coluber obso- 

 letus (Fig. 9), attains the greatest length of any of the snakes 

 embraced in the present list. This species is a power- Piiot 



ful constrictor, and is the northern representative of Blacksnake. 

 the large and brilliantly-colored Rat Snakes of the South. 



To the novice this serpent might appear similar to the pre- 

 ceding species. This similarity, however, applies only to color. 

 Unlike the Black Snake or Racer, the scales are polished and 

 the body presents a metallic, shining appearance instead of a 

 satiny luster. 



' The typical (black) form inhabits the Eastern States; a variety of lighter 

 color frequents the Middle States; in the Western States is the variety called 

 the Green Racer {B. constrictor flaviventris). 



