HOUSE SNAKE

any of several species that occur around dwellings. In the United States this name is often given to the milk snake (see king snake). The house snakes of Africa belong to the genus Boaedon, family Colubridae. They are harmless mouse- and rat-catchers. An example is B. lineatum of eastern Africa, often found in eaves or under mats; it is blackish and usually less than 90 cm (35 inches) long.