Mountain Blacksnake

[monelle]

In the book Snakes of the Catskill Mountains, there is a called a snake called the Mountain Blacksnake, which is differentiated from the Common Blacksnake in that the belly is yellowish (not gray), it has keeled scales, and it is larger. In fact, it is called the largest snake in the area, often attaining a length of 7 feet. The book also says that this snake is much less nervous than the Common Blacksnake.

I cannot find any reference to this snake on the internet or in Google images. As the book was written in 1953, I am wondering if this snake is now called something else (e.g., Eastern Rat Snake?). Please forgive me, I am trying to put together some photographs for my grandson, but I know absolutely nothing about snakes.