Black Snake

Black Snake (Bascanium constrictor, see COLUBER), a species of snake common in the United States of America from Louisiana to Connecticut. Barring the white throat, it is of an almost uniform leaden colour, is one of the largest serpents in North America, and is remarkable for its great agility. It moves along the ground with a swiftness equal to that of a horse, glides over bushes, and climbs trees. It feeds on small quadrupeds, birds, frogs, &c.; frequently plunders poultry-yards of eggs; and enters dairies to drink milk or cream. A persistent enemy of the rattlesnake, it is generally the conqueror in a struggle, enveloping its venomous foe in its coils and crushing it to death. It has no poison-fangs, but is not slow to bite. It is easily tamed.—The commonest Australian snake (Pseudêchis porphyricus), found in marshy places, and somewhat cobra-like in its actions, is also called the Black Snake. The back is glancing black, the sides carmine, the belly red; the neck is not dilat-able. It may measure over 6 feet in length. It is very venomous, belongs to the family Elapidae, and is nearly allied to the Cobra (q.v.).