Red Milk Snake

Ophibolus doliatus variety clericus, (B. &. G.)

Colouration: Yellowish above, with a series of large, deep scarlet, transverse blotches, narrowly bordered with black, which vary in their extension to the third, second or first rows of scales--the majority reaching the two latter rows. With some specimens the blotches are chestnut brown. There is a row of smaller, alternating blotches on the sides, widely margined with black which so fuses over many of them as to nearly obliterate the red.
Dimensions: An adult specimen from Washington, D.C., shows the following measurements:
Distribution: It appears that this variety takes the place of triangulus in the southern portion of the latter's range and thus forming the connecting link in the distribution of varieties with the typical form--a Southern reptile. The range of the Red Milk Snake extends some distance northward into that of the Northern form and they intermingle from southern New Jersey westward to the Mississippi. The present form extends southward to Georgia.
Habits: The habits of this pretty creature in no way differ from those of the Northern form. Freshly captured specimens evince an irritable disposition, but soon become tame. They vibrate the tail rapidly when annoyed. If a newly caught specimen is handled, it will run its snout over the flesh in a deliberate fashion, as if seeking for a tender spot on which to employ its minute teeth and finally bite and retain its hold, advancing the jaws forward in chewing fashion in emphasis of its displeasure. Specimens in the writer's collection were indifferent in their feeding. A few were induced to take very young mice. One specimen ate a green snake (Liopeltis vernalis).

Smaller than the preceding serpent and more closely resembling the typical form, owing to the wider blotches and the paler ground-colour, imparting more the appearance of being ringed above with scarlet and yellow than blotched or spotted like the variety triangulus--the Northern Milk Snake.

The head is mostly red above, with a small, light spot above each eye. Immediately behind the head and preceding the first of the regular blotches is a circular spot of the ground-colour, ringed with black; this takes the place of the triangular patch of light colour on the neck of the Northern form--triangulus, and is a useful character to be considered in distinguishing the present variety.

The abdomen is white, boldly tessellated with black.

Examined from above, this variety looks like a red snake, marked with narrow rings of yellow or pale gray--the latter bordered with narrower rings of black. From the side, the large blotches will be seen to be wider than with the variety triangulus--extending much nearer the edges of the abdominal plates.

Total Length. . . . . 19 inches.

Length of Tail. . . . . 2 5/8 inches.

Diameter of Body. . . . . 7/16 inches.

Width of Head. . . . . 3/8 inches.

Length of Head. . . . . 5/8 inches.

Variations.--The sub-species under consideration is itself subject to some variation of pattern--although the differences are but superficial. On certain specimens, the first light patch of colour behind the head extends as a half ring around the neck instead of being confined to a circular area above. From a specimen showing this slight variation was based the variety "collaris." Sometimes the light patch of colour extends forward to the temples--a character eliciting the name "temporalis." If such varieties are to be considered of good standing, future investigations with large series of reptiles would cause our lists of the North American serpents and lizards--many species of which vary almost individually as specimens--to attain stupendous proportions.

This is one of the useful reptiles. It leads a generally secretive life, prowling about stone piles or under the loose bark of fallen and decaying timber, in which situations it feeds largely upon wild mice and rats, occasionally varying the diet with lizards and snakes. If captive specimens are in good trim a mix-up is liable at feeding time. Fighting for a mouse the examples may knot into a constricting ball, in which the smaller ones are liable to be crushed.