File:The American Museum journal (c1900-(1918)) (18156055332).jpg

Title: The American Museum journal
Identifier: americanmuseumjo05amer (find matches)
Year: c1900-(1918) (c190s)
Authors: American Museum of Natural History
Subjects: Natural history
Publisher: New York : American Museum of Natural History
Contributing Library: American Museum of Natural History Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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REPTILES OF THE VICINITY OF NEW YORK CITY 99 Although this species is generally distributed, it is not of common occuiTence. From a habit of sometimes frequenting the neighborhood of stables and dairies, it has acquired the reputation of obtaining milk from the cows. This is an illogical
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FIQ. 5. MILK SNAKE ; WITH EGGS theory, and proof of the actual deed from reputable obser\^ers is wanting. In captivity this serpent is wholly indifferent to milk, but will eat mice, young birds and small snakes other than its own species. It is a constrictor and closely related to the King Snake of the southern states. The I\Iilk Snake is ovipa- rous, laying eggs to the number of two dozen or more. Range: The central and eastern United States; Canada. Local distribution: General; frequents woods. The Ring-Necked Snake, Diadophis punctatiis (Fig. 6), is the most easily distinguished of the various local snakes. The scales of this little reptile are smooth and shining. Ring- while the body is a uniform dark gray or bluish black, K«:jked with a briUiant yellow ring around the neck imme- Snake. diately behind the head. Beneath, the color is orange yellow; a single row of black spots is generally present. The length seldom exceeds fifteen inches. These little snakes may be occasionally found in damp woods, under stones or burrowing under the bark of decay- ing trees. The species is quite rare within the hmits under

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