CoLUBBiD*. REPTILES. CoLiJBBiDa!. ccxix 
COMMON GARTER SNAKE {E. sirtalis, B. and Q) 
— This is the familiar Striped Snake of the Nortli- 
easterii States, and is our most common species. 
Several varieties are known. Ten otlier species are 
enumerated in tlie United States. 
WATER ADDER [Nerodia sipedon, B. and 0 .) — 
Tropidonotus, Holi. Tliis is an exceedingly common 
aquatic Snake, indigenous to the Eastern United 
States. A variety, called the Red-bellied Water 
Snake, is known in Michigan. Four other species 
are known. Regina has four species in the Southern 
States : R. clarki, R. grahami, R. rigida and R. 
leberis. Ninia diademata is a Mexican form. 
THE BLOWING VIPER {Heterodon platyrTiinos, 
Latr.) — Hog-nose Snake. This is abundant in some 
parts of the Eastern States. It is a vicious-appear- 
ing creature, but harmless. H. siinus is found in the 
Western States. Five other species are known in 
this country. 
THE PINE SNAKE {Pituophis melanoleucus, Holb) 
— Called, also, Buim Snake. Found in the pine 
woods, from New Jersey to the Gulf States. 'I'he 
term of the genus implies the pine-wood habit. 
Another species, P. sayi, is found in Wisconsin. 
Five others are recorded. 
ALLEGHANY BLACK SNAKE {Scotophis alle- 
ghaniensis, B. and G.) — Coluber of Holbrook. We 
apply a trivial name to this species. Jt was first 
discovered on the summit of the Blue Ridge, in Vir- 
ginia, by Mr. Geo. Robbins, of Philadelphia. Speci- 
mens are found among the highlands of the Hudson, 
New York. It resembles the Common Black Snake, 
but has carinated scales. Holbrook’s specimen meas- 
ures five feet three inches. It is credited with an “ ex- 
ceedingly mild and gentle disposition, quite in contrast 
with the Black Snake (C. constrictor).” — HolbrooJc. 
DeKay names this species the Pilot Black Snake, 
and in some localities it is called Racer. 
FOX SNAKE (-S', vulpinus, B. and G.) — Inhabits 
from Massachusetts to Kansas, and northward. 
SPOTTED RACER [S. guttatus, B. and G.) — Coluber 
euttatus, Holbrook. This is the familiar Corn 
Snake of the South. Its northern limit is the Caro- 
linas, or Virginia. 
CHICKEN SNAKE (-S', quadrivittatus, B. and G.)~ 
This is found in Florida, first by Bartrain, and after- 
wards described by Prof. Agassiz. It reaches north 
as far as North Carolina. It is about three feet six 
inches in length. Other species of Scotophis, re- 
corded by Baird and Girard, are S. lindheimeri, 
'l.'exas ; S. confinis. South Carolina; and S. lactus, 
Arkansas. 
CHAIN SNAKE {Ophibolus getulus, B. and G .) — 
Called Thunder Snake and King Snake. Found 
abundantly in wet places in the Southern States. 
It is one of the most beautiful of the order, both in 
color and pattern of figure. It is said to be found 
as far north as Maryland. 
SAY’S SNAKE [0. sayi, B. and G.) is a most at- 
tractive creature, having a bluish-black body, with 
round milk-white spots, thickly bespattered over its 
entire upper surface. It measures from three to four 
feet in length, and is found in the Gulf States. 
RED SNAKE ; CORN SNAKE ( 0. doliatus, B. and G.) 
— 'I'his is a small, but elegant reptile, measuring 
eleven inches in length. It is the Coronella doliata 
of Holbrook. 'I’he body is a brilliant scarlet in color, 
with many jet-black rings, a white ring between each 
pair of black. Its habitat is from the Middle States 
southward. 
HOUSE SNAKE ; MILK SNAKE [0. dericus, B. 
and G.) — -Coluber eximius of Holbrook; Coronella 
of DeKay. Called Milk Snake, from the fact that 
it frequents dairies or cellars where milk is kept. It 
is a harmless and familiar creature. Its habitat is 
the Middle States, and north as far as Maine. In 
Massachusetts it is called Chequered Adder, and in 
New York State, Sand King and Sachem Snake. 
Baird and Girard record other species, as 0. gen- 
tilis, Arkansas ; 0. rhombo-maculatus, Georgia. 
KENNICUT’S CHAIN SNAKE {0. calligaster {Say) 
Cope). — 0. evansi, Kennicutt. Found from Illinois 
to Kansas. 
INDIGO SNAKE [Georgia couperi, B. and G .) — 
Called, also. Gopher Snake. 'I’his is a dark blue, 
and much resembles the Black -Snake in color, but 
is very much stouter in body. It is a harmless 
Snake, and, being stout and courageous, it has the 
reputation among the negroes of killing the Rattle- 
snake. It frequents the holes of the Gopher. 
THE BLACK SNAKE [Bascunion constrictor, B. and 
G.) — Coluber constrictor of authors. 'I’his familiar 
serpent of our country-side is the beau ideal of the 
race, expressing the most slender and graceful form, 
with an extreme length of body. 'I’he tail is pro- 
longed gradually to a mere point, and becomes high- 
ly prehensile. 'I’he head is graceful, and the steel- 
bluish uniform color, with the beautifully tessellated 
arrangement of scales, all tend to render the creature 
exceedingly attractive. Added to this, the Black 
Snake is the most active and powerful of the order, 
and is wild and untameable. We have witnessed a 
combat between a Black Snake and a Rattlesnake, 
in which the former quickly defeated its adversary, 
by coiling around its body and crushing it, and thus 
forcing it to disgorge the prey which was in dis- 
pute. 'I’his species is widely distributed over the 
United States. Baird and Girard dedicated a new 
species to J. G. Fremont, calling it B. fremonti. It 
has a stouter body than the preceding, and the head 
is larger. Habitat, California. B. foxi, Pennsylva- 
nia; B. flaviventris, California; and B. vetustus, 
Oregon, are enumerated. 
COACH-WHIP SNAKE {MasticopMs flag elli for mis, 
B. and G.) — 'I’his is a rare form, found in Georgia 
and the Gulf States. It is a very long and graceful 
Snake, and a rapid runner. M. flavigularis is from 
'I’exas. M. mormon is a species found in the valley 
of the Great Salt Lake. M. ornatus, 'Texas ; and M. 
taeniatus, California. Salvadora of Baird and 
Girard has a species, S. grahami, found in .Mexico. 
GREEN SNAKE {Leptophis mstivus, Holb) — 'I’his is 
a most graceful and beautiful creature, being nearly the 
same in shape as the Black Snake, but much smaller, 
and of a brilliant green color. Found in Southern 
States. L. majalis is from 'Texas and Arkansas. 
