Pine Snake or Bull Snake

Pituophis melanoleucus, (Daudin)

Colouration: Dull white on the back, becoming intensely white on the sides. Down the back is a series of large, black blotches, closer together and not sharply defined on the forward portion of the body, but on the latter portion, some distance apart and in vivid contrast with the pale ground-colour. There is a row of smaller blotches on each side, and beneath this row (on the edges of the abdominal plates), a row of large black spots. The head is thickly dotted with black. The greater area of the abdomen is immaculate, marble white.
Dimensions: The Pine Snake is one of the largest serpents of the Eastern States. It attains a length of eight feet. Measuremerits are given of a specimen of average size, from southern New Jersey:
Distribution: Southern New Jersey, and southward throughout Florida; westward to Ohio. This snake is most abundant in the dry, pine woods of the Atlantic Coast region.

Size large and form moderately stout. In shape, the head of this snake resembles that of a turtle. It is small in proportion to the reptile's size and sharply pointed at the snout, which portion protrudes considerably over the lower jaw. The scales of the back are keeled and lustreless; on the sides they show a highly polished surface. The tail terminates in a hard spine; this, on a large specimen, is three-eighths of an inch in length.

Variation.--The preceding description appeals to the typical Pine Snake, inhabiting the dry, pine woods of the Atlantic Coast and the Middle States. In South Carolina, Georgia and Florida, these snakes altogether lack the striking black and white appearance of the typical form. The extreme Southern snake shows blotches of dull, rusty brown, which are ill-defined. With such specimens the black spots on the edges of the abdominal plates are lacking. Intermediate forms are common, with which the black blotches are present, but contain dull brown centres-hence the Southern Pine Snake is not distinct enough from the typical form to bear a varietal name.

Total Length . . . . . 5 feet.

Length of Tail . . . . . 8 1/2 inches.

Diameter of Body . . . . . 1 5/8 inches.

Length of Head . . . . . 1 3/4 inches.

Width of Head . . . . . 1 inch.

Habits of the Pine Snake

From the habit of emitting a very loud and prolonged hiss when annoyed, the Pine Snake and other species of the genus Pituophis, differ from the vast majority of snakes. This startling sound is produced by a peculiar arrangement of the glottis, which is the air opening, tube-like in form, that is attached to the lower jaw of snakes. In front of the glottis, is an appendage termed the epiglottis; this intensifies the sound of an angry exhalation of the breath in precisely the same fashion as a bit of pasteboard held in front of one's lips and blown upon forcibly. The snake employs the organ to intimidate an enemy. Taking a deep inhalation, it half opens its mouth, and emits the breath with a noise that may be heard for fifty feet or more. To complete a thoroughly hostile air to its antics it usually strikes at the offending object while giving voice to its anger. As the snake's head darts forward the reptile utters a sound that might rival the plunging of a piece of red-hot metal into water. Generally speaking the appearance of one of these snakes in a rage is quite sufficient to excite profound respect in the mind of a person not acquainted with it. During these hostile exhibitions the reptile vibrates its tail so rapidly, that if among dried vegetation it produces a noise similar to that of the rattlesnake.

The Pine Snake is at most a bad-tempered reptile, and although an occasional specimen will become quiet and docile in captivity, the majority of these snakes are morose and sullen and savagely resent familiarity from human hands. The demeanour of captive specimens is such that many specimens refuse to eat and ultimately starve to death.

A powerful constrictor, the Pine Snake feeds upon small rabbits, squirrels and other rodents. It is very fond of birds and eggs. In swallowing the latter it goes through an interesting performance. The egg is engulfed entire--without breaking the shell--and swallowed for a distance of about eight or ten inches down the neck, when that portion of the reptile is pressed firmly against the ground, the muscles are called violently into play and exert themselves in such a manner that strong pressure is brought against the egg from anterior and posterior directions. Subjected to this compression the shell is broken and the fragments are swallowed along with the contents of the egg, all parts of which are digested. Many of the mammal and bird-eating snakes feed occasionally upon eggs, but they generally consume them entire and await the action of the gastric juices to dissolve the shell, a condition taking place within the space of two or three days. All of the snakes of this genus however go through the performance of breaking the shell before swallowing the egg. A Pine Snake of five feet in length, can easily swallow the eggs of a hen, and will consume from four to six at a meal.

This species is oviparous. The eggs vary from fifteen to two dozen in number.