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Blacksnake — Part 2
This species generally selects rather dry and open situations, being especially partial to the edges of meadows which are fringed along their borders with brush or bushes, into which the snake may dart for shelter. In such places it finds an abundance of birds or the small wild mice that make their nests in the under-growth or in stone walls, where they are hunted by the snake. The species is commonly observed sunning at the edges of these opens, or sometimes stretched out in the bushes, for it is an agile climber, and although not passing much time above the ground will occasionally ascend to considerable heights in search of nests containing eggs or young birds, being voraciously fond of both. The Blacksnake is also fond of frogs--in fact it might be called an omnivorous serpent.
Having observed the Blacksnake many times afield, the writer feels competent to explain something about its alleged "boldness." While climbing one of the mountains in Pike County, Pennsylvania, he came suddenly upon a specimen on a rocky ledge, engaged in a tussle with a ribbon snake (Eutaenia saurita), which it was endeavouring to swallow. The victim had been grasped by the neck and had so twisted itself about its captor's body that the latter was having anything but an easy time in the engulfing process. Approaching warily, the writer made an attempt to capture both, but the wily "racer" had spied him, and, releasing the ribbon snake from its jaws, dashed through the relaxing coils of the victim and over the cliff. Grasping the bewildered ribbon snake by the tail, the writer saw the Blacksnake dart into the air fully six feet from the rock and drop fifty feet below on a thick growth of bushes, over which it skimmed with bewildering speed for some distance, when it dove into the brush and disappeared. The majority of Blacksnakes seen by the writer have displayed a corresponding alacrity to get away, and to catch them means a quick dash, with outstretched hand, and an indifference to the serpent's teeth: for the moment a specimen is made captive, it displays such dexterity in striking that one must be quick indeed to avoid its passes.
When overtaken on smooth ground, where its undulations do not catch the proper purchase for fast travelling, this species will turn and strike boldly at the would-be captor. If cornered, it fights bravely, raising the anterior portion of the body from the ground and striking upward to a distance of more than half its length.
While chasing a specimen across a cotton field, the writer observed the snake to start into a crevice of the ground and gave the reptile up for lost. It appeared that the snake was not familiar with the place as the crevice extended but a foot or so. Finding this to be the case, and with only head and neck secreted, the reptile thrashed the exposed part of its body in an hysterical exhibition of rage and excitement, and emerged from the burrow to face the pursuer, the maddest snake he had ever seen. Forgetting the surrounding vegetation, which offered good shelter, it struck a dozen times, and during these antics was made a captive.
After a few weeks in captivity, these snakes lose their nervousness, feed readily and thrive for years. They display rather more intelligence than do most serpents, and will quickly learn to come to the hand that feeds them. The writer once witnessed a remarkable performance on the part of a captive specimen. This snake had been captured more than a year. Taking the creature from its glass-fronted cage, the owner placed it upon the floor, and taking a dead mouse by the tail, offered it to the snake, although he warily kept the rodent about a foot from the ophidian's jaws. Holding the mouse the same distance from the snake, he retreated across the room, the shining creature following in graceful undulations, with head upraised. Up a ladder leading to a loft went the man, the snake quickly ascending the rungs; and then describing a circle on the floor above, the man descended the ladder, the snake sliding after him. Once more in the room, he held the mouse some distance from the floor, shaking it vigorously in one hand, while with the other he reached for his pet, which, quickly climbing to the coveted mouse, seized and began swallowing it while yet in the master's hands. Throughout the entire performance, the snake displayed nothing but eagerness for the mouse--and absolutely no fear of the actions of the man.
The Blacksnake is oviparous--depositing from one to two dozen eggs during June or July. These are frequently secreted under flat stones, on sunny banks, or are laid in soft, moist soil. A captive specimen slightly under five feet in length, deposited eight eggs. These were elongated and cylindrical in shape. They measured at time of deposit 1 7/8 inches in length and 11/16 of an inch in diameter. (Illustration--Batch of Eggs.) The eggs are snow-white when laid, and have a tough, leathery shell. Each egg, on close examination, appears to have a smooth, satiny surface sprinkled with coarse grains of salt. This character distinguishes the eggs of the Blacksnake from those of the great majority of snakes.