The King Snakes 



the most important points of discrimination. Besides these 

 characters, it should be noted that there are no smaller, alter- 

 nating blotches on the sides. 



Dimensions. This is a slightly larger reptile than the typical 

 form, though of the same conformation. An adult specimen 

 will measure about 28 inches. 



Distribution. Nebraska and western Louisiana to south- 

 western Texas and northern Mexico. 



THE SCARLET KING SNAKE; "CORAL SNAKE" 

 Opbibolus doliatus, variety coccineus, (Schlegel) 



The present form is the most pronounced and removed from 

 the typical form of any of its varieties. It represents the greatest 

 development of the ringed pattern, not only the black completely 

 encircling the body, but the red and yellow as well. It is also 

 the smallest of the forms, the most slender in proportion and pos- 

 sesses the most pointed snout. Compared with the most special- 

 ised of the spotted forms the variety triangulus the Northern 

 Milk Snake, it might first appear, to the popular observer, in 

 the discrepancy of size, entire difference of pattern and colours, 

 form of body and shape of the head, to represent not merely 

 a distinct species, but belong to a different genus as well. It has 

 adopted burrowing habits. Degeneration has progressed rapidly. 

 As an instance of this we find occasional specimens with the 

 loreal plate (between the eye plate and the nasal plate) missing. 

 If such a character were constant the snake would represent a 

 very distinct species and be excluded from the genus Ophibolus. 

 On such specimens the number of scale rows is also reduced 

 they have been described under the head of Osceola elapsoidea. 

 As the intergrading forms are numerous sometimes specimens 

 with a loreal on but one side of the head we cannot, at the 

 present state of this reptile's development, give specific rank to 

 specimens of this character. 



Colouration. Brilliantly ringed with scarlet, yellow and 

 black. The scarlet rings are widest, and completely encircle 

 the body with the majority of specimens; the yellow rings are 

 about half the width of the red and bordered on each side by 

 rings of black, which, on the back, are of about the same width 

 as the yellow. On the sides the black rings become narrowed 



35 



