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Common King Snake
Colouration.—The greater number of specimens are black, with narrow yellow or white cross-bands, which fork on the sides and connect with one another in chain-like fashion. These bands are one and a half to two scales wide and separated by intervals of from five to ten scales. The abdomen is black, with large blotches of white or yellow.
Dimensions.—This form of the King Snake is one of the largest of the North American serpents. In Florida, specimens of 6 feet in length are not of rare occurrence. From southern New Jersey to North Carolina, the average length of an adult specimen is from 3 1/2 to 4 feet. The measurements given represent a fairly large specimen from the Southern States:
Distribution.—With its varieties, this King Snake ranges over the entire United States south of latitude 40 deg.
The typical form of this species is the largest of the King Snakes. It attains a length of six feet. The body is stout and cylindrical and the head small--but slightly distinct from the neck.
Variations.--Specimens occurring from southern New Jersey to South Carolina are usually jet-black, with white, chain-like markings. Those found in Georgia, Alabama and northern Florida have yellow markings on a black or deep brown ground. In central and southern Florida a large number of specimens are brown, olive or green, with indistinct bands. Close examination of such specimens will reveal each scale to contain a pale centre. The light blotches on the abdomen generally match the hue of the bands on the back.
The jet-black specimens from the northern portion of the range, with their vivid white markings, are in strange contrast with pale, greenish specimens without bands, from Florida but a varietal name would be inappropriate as every degree of connecting variations may be found in a large series of specimens.
This is a beautiful species. The scales of the back are polished and those of the abdomen glassy and lustrous, the latter reflecting, on specimens that have recently cast their skins, all the prismatic colours.
Total Length . . . . . 60 inches.
Length of Tail . . . . . 8 1/8 inches.
Greatest Diameter . . . . . 1 1/8 inches.
Width of Head . . . . . 7/8 inches.
Length of Head . . . . . 1 5/8 inches.
The range of the present (typical) form is from the pine regions of southern New Jersey to Florida and westward to the Mississippi River. It is most abundant in the southern Atlantic Coast region.
While several zoological works have alleged that the King Snake occurs in southern New York--records being cited from Long Island, the writer doubts the accuracy of these statements.
Habits of the King Snake.
One of the most striking in pattern of the American snakes, extremely docile in disposition and displaying habits that render it highly useful to man in his agricultural pursuits, this serpent might be said to rank first in attractiveness of the various ophidian species embraced by this work, or to share that position with the fine Indigo Snake of similar habitat.
Of several species of the genus Ophibolus, all of which have been described as possessing cannibalistic habits, the King Snake displays this character to the strongest degree--in fact to such an extent that besides the promptings of its appetite this snake exhibits a pugnacious interest in other serpents that may be considerably larger than itself, engaging these creatures in a duel to the death, during which, however, they are able to make but little resistance, when encircled by the wonderfully strong, constricting coils of the enemy.
It is from this fighting disposition among serpents, that the King Snake has acquired its popular name. Supposition had it that this species relentlessly trails the rattlesnake, and other poisonous reptiles of which it is the natural enemy. This is not true for the King Snake takes no more interest in the rattlesnakes and other poisonous species than the common striped snake that may unconsciously prowl across its path. Moreover, this snake spends no time in actually searching for venomous reptiles that it may destroy them. If, accidentally, in its wanderings it meets a rattlesnake, there is certain to be trouble for the latter unless it continues on its way without hesitation, for the King Snake delights to pick quarrels over nothing and once aroused will coil itself tightly about its astonished adversary and begin to squeeze. Slowly the grip grows tighter and the victim, if it be venomous, uses its fangs freely upon the body of the tormentor, but to no effect, as the King Snake is entirely immune to snake poison. But the wounds enrage it. Winding the lithe body round and round the doomed creature, until every part of the shining length is engaged, it tightens with such strength that the victim is benumbed, unable to bite, and is quickly strangled. So powerful is this snake in proportion to its size, and aided as it is by great agility of motion, that even the large and strong constricting snakes of other species fall easy victims when attacked.