Home › Volumes › Reptiles › Snakes
Pilot Blacksnake
Colouration.—Lustrous black above. When the skin is distended the edges of the scales show narrow, milk-white edges, existing profusely in regular order and causing the black to appear as if arranged in a series of large blotches on the back and sides. These white, line-like spots are sometimes mixed with spots of bright red and on such specimens the skin between the scales is of a rich brick-red.
Dimensions.—Occasional specimens are seven and eight feet long, but they considerably exceed the average dimensions. The measurements of a fine specimen, taken in Sullivan County, New York, are given:
Distribution.—Massachusetts to Florida. Westward in the North to Illinois, and ranging in the South into Texas. In the Northern States this snake frequents mountainous places.
Habits.—A fine specimen captured by the writer, was sunning itself by an opening in the masonry of the "Stone Bridge," over Bull Run Creek, Virginia. Heavily laden with fragments of shells after a trip over the historic battlegrounds, the writer was startled to see the glittering black length of the reptile as it lay on the red dust of the road. Dropping his souvenirs, he rushed for the snake, which, being in the immediate vicinity of escape, started off. By the time the snake had been firmly grasped by the tail, it was a third of its length secreted in a crevice of the masonry, and nothing but long, patient and persistent work succeeded in getting it out again, when, with commendable bravery, it turned on its captor and fought vigorously. A negro, passing down the turnpike and carrying a scythe, came suddenly upon the exciting spectacle of a man, snake and cannon shells very much mixed up, and at once offered to engage the snake with his weapon. What would have happened to the serpent if the man with the scythe had arrived at the bridge before the writer, is not difficult to guess. An hour later this snake was taken from a bag and exhibited to the wondering family of a farmer. The creature had entirely cast aside its hostile airs, and submitted to handling with perfect docility.
One of the largest species. The form is quite stout and the head is rather square in outline-flat at the snout. On the back, the scales are feebly keeled, but the entire body is smooth and glossy in appearance.
The upper portion of the head is black; the upper lip plates are white, margined with black; the chin and throat are immaculate white. On the forward part of the body the abdomen is white, blotched with gray; on the latter portion the gray fuses over the entire surface.
When examined in a brilliant light, from certain angles, many specimens appear to be of a dark, rich brown, on which body-colour may be clearly discerned the four dark bands, extending the length of the body, that characterise the Yellow Chicken Snake, C. obsoletus, variety quadrivittatus. Young specimens are grayish or brownish, boldy marked with saddles of black or dark brown.
Variations.-The species exhibits great variation. The typical form is found over a wide area of the eastern United States. In the Central States and the southeastern United States, a gray variety, blotched with dark brown occurs. Also inhabiting the southeastern United States is the Four-banded Coluber. These distinct varieties will be treated under separate heads in the succeeding pages.
The typical Pilot Blacksnake is a serpent often confused with the Common Blacksnake or Racer (Bascanion constrictor), a reptile to which it bears little resemblance except in presenting a generally black appearance. The difference between these snakes may be briefly outlined for the student's convenience, thus:
a. Scales keeled and polished.
b. Head broad and square.
c. Black, with white spots on the edge of the scales Pilot Blacksnake, Coluber obsoletus.
a. Scales smooth, with satiny lustre.
b. Head narrow.
c. Uniform black. Blacksnake; Racer, Bascanion constrictor.
The Pilot Blacksnake is by no means as abundant a serpent as the Racer.
Total Length . . . . . 5 feet, 6 1/2 inches.
Length of Tail . . . . . 11 1/2 inches.
Greatest Diameter . . . . . 1 1/2 inches.
Width of Head . . . . . 1 1/4 inches.
Length of Head . . . . . 2 inches.
The Pilot Blacksnake, though an admirable climber is not so partial to arboreal situations as some of the colubers. Otherwise its habits are much the same as the allied species. It deposits a like number of eggs.