Holbrook gives the following exhaustive account of this species, about which many sensational stories are current even in would-be scientific periodicals:–
The "Black Snake" is one of the commonest of North American species. It is extremely active, climbing with facility, and running with great rapidity, whence it is not uncommonly called the "Racer." It frequents shady places, covered with thick shrubs, on the margins of water. It feeds on mice, toads, or small birds; and, as it is an excellent climber, is frequently seen on trees in search of birds' nests. It is a bold and daring serpent, enters barns and out-houses without fear, and has been known to destroy young chickens. Its specific name constrictor would imply that it suffocates or crushes its prey, but this according to Holbrook is at least doubtful. In the breeding season it is extremely irascible, and will frequently attack persons passing at a distance of several steps; the tail then quivers with rage, making a quick vibrating motion, which in forests and among dead leaves sounds not unlike the Rattle-Snake; it now elevates the head one or two feet from the ground, and darts upon its adversary; luckily its bite is harmless, and not more painful than the scratch of a pin.
"It will even descend from trees to attack its enemy if teazed, yet it does not twine itself around the legs, as is commonly supposed.
"The same power of charming its prey has been attributed to the Black as to the Rattle-Snake, and with still less appearance of reason; for this is a nimble animal, and can pursue its prey, while the Rattle-Snake must lie in wait for his. It is remarkable that the birds most commonly found 'charmed' are the Cat-bird (Turdus carolinensis) or red-winged Black-bird (Icterus phoeniceus). These birds choose thick and shady places on the margins of streams for their residence, and generally build their nests on such shrubs as the alder; the latter bird not unfrequently takes the precaution to select such bushes as are on small islands, or such as have their roots surrounded by water, and thus their home is more secure. Now the Black Snake chooses precisely the same localities, knowing probably the haunts of its prey. The serpent begins the war by besieging the nest; the old bird, aware of its intention, attacks it with fluttering and uncertain motions, accompanied by a plaintive cry of distress, and is then said to be 'charmed.' The snake is at last either driven off, or it captures the young and not unfrequently the old bird too.
"Sometimes the old bird, by her cries, calls in the assistance of her neighbours to drive away the aggressor. I have seen more than a dozen birds thus engaged with a large Black Snake that had probably just committed some depredation, but was now quietly stretched on a rock, basking in the sun; and it was not a little singular that birds of very different genera, and those seldom seen together, all united in this warfare against a common enemy, and finally compelled him to seek shelter among some low, thick shrubs, by the violence of their assault."
Zaocys, with about half-a-dozen species in South-Eastern Asia, is closely allied to Zamenis. Z. carinatus, of the Malay Islands, grows to 10 feet in length; it is consequently one of the largest harmless Colubrine snakes. The scales form only sixteen to eighteen rows. The sub-caudals are double. The general colour above is dark olive, passing into greenish brown farther back. The under parts are yellowish; black and yellow posteriorly. The fifth and sixth labials border the eye.
Fig. 162.–Zaocys carinatus. × ¼.
Coluber.–The maxillary teeth are of equal size, but the anterior mandibular teeth are the longest. The head is distinct from the neck. The nasals are distinct; not fused with the loreals. The eye is rather large, with a round pupil. The scales, smooth or keeled, have apical pits; the ventrals are rounded or angulate laterally; the sub-caudals are double. They all lay eggs and constrict their food. Nearly fifty species in the Periarctic region.
C. (Elaphis) quatuorlineatus s. quaterradiatus inhabits Italy and South-Eastern Europe. It occurs also in the Southern Tyrol. The scales of this large snake, which grows to nearly 6 feet in length, are arranged in twenty-five rows, and are feebly keeled. The anal is divided. Adult specimens have a yellowish-brown ground-colour with a pair of black streaks on each side of the back. A black line extends from the eye to the angle of the mouth; the under parts are yellow, mostly closely spotted with brown. This snake is good-tempered, and keeps well in captivity. They live on sparrows, mice, lizards, etc., and are very fond of eggs. Large specimens can swallow several fowls' eggs in succession; the crushed remains of the shells are later disgorged. This handsome snake climbs extremely well in search of birds and their eggs, and it is not afraid of the water. The prey is caught either with the teeth or by a rapid twist of the tail; in any case, the prey is always strangulated by the constriction of coils thrown round it. A sparrow thus secured is literally passed through the moving coils along the snake's body into a position convenient for swallowing. Hungry snakes catch and secure several birds or mice before eating them. My own specimens became almost affectionately tame, never attempted to bite, and took food from the hand.