milk-snake（n.）
"一条英俊而无害的蛇" [世纪词典]，是美国较大的蛇之一，分布于许多州，1812年起源于 milk (n.) + snake (n.)。也被称为 chicken-snake (1793年已有记载)， house-snake 和 thunder-and-lightning snake。
It [the milk-snake] sometimes in this county has been known to enter a grist-mill and remain a length of time for the apparent purpose of feeding on the mice which were there attainable. It is probable this is one principal object of his frequenting dwelling houses, and not always for the purpose of obtaining milk, as is generally supposed. [The American Journal of Science and Arts, April 1844]
在这个县，牛奶蛇有时会进入磨坊并停留一段时间，显然是为了捕食那里可得的老鼠。这可能是它经常出没于住宅的主要目的，而不总是为了获取牛奶，这是人们普遍认为的。[《美国科学与艺术杂志》，1844年4月]