THE BLACK SNAKE. 
133 
Kennicott’s Chain Snake {Ophibolus calligaster ) is a species found from Illinois to 
Kansas. 
The Indigo Snake (Spilotes couperi ), called also Gopher Snake, is a dark indigo-blue 
in color, much resembling the Black Snake in the bluish-black color. It is stouter in 
body, and from that fact and a fancied courageousness, the negroes regard it as an enemy 
and victor of the rattlesnake. Its 
' habit of frequenting the holes 
of the Gopher suggests the local 
name. 
Species belonging to the 
genus Coluber are found in Aus- 
tralia, India, Japan, China, and 
Europe, the latter ( Coluber cbscu- 
lapii) being the Serpent which is 
represented by the ancients as 
twined round the statf of Aescu- 
lapius and the caduceus of Mer- 
cury. 
The Black Snake of America 
{Bascanium constrictor') is per- 
haps the best known of the nu- 
merous Serpents, which, happen- 
ing to be black or dark brown, 
have been called by the same 
title. 
This Snake is common in North- 
ern America, where it is sometimes 
known under the name of Racer, 
on account of its great speed. It is 
a perfectly harmless, but highly 
irascible reptile, especially during 
the breeding-season, when it seems 
to become endowed with an un- 
reasoning ferocity, which, happily 
for the world, is seldom found in 
reptiles better provided with offen- 
sive weapons. It has a curious habit of rustling its tail among the herbage in such a man- 
ner as to resemble the whirr of the dreaded rattlesnake, and then darts at the object of 
its rage and inflicts a tolerably severe bite, thereby inducing great terror on the part of the 
sufferer, who, in the hurry of the moment, naturally believes that he has been bitten by 
the rattlesnake itself. 
It is fond of climbing trees in search of young birds, eggs, and similar dainties, and even 
in that position, is of so tetchy a disposition, that when irritated, it will descend in order 
to attack its foe. Even if confined with other Snakes, it becomes quarrelsome, fights with 
them, and if possible will kill them. 
The haunts of the Black Snake are usually to be found along the edges of streams and 
ponds or lakes, and the reptile is mostly to be seen in shady spots, well sheltered by brush- 
wood. Sometimes, however, it goes farther a-field, and wanders over the free country, 
traverses rocky soil, or glides along the roadside. 
It is a most useful reptile, being very fond of rats, and able from its great agility to 
climb over walls or buildings in search of its prey, and to insinuate its black length into 
their holes. 
