The Sharp-nosed Snakes 



If the snake is examined from directly above, the pattern 

 seems to be composed of wide crimson or scarlet rings, separated 

 by pairs of black ones, the latter enclosing an equal-sized ring 

 of yellow. It is this ringed aspect that causes the species to look 

 like the Coral Snake and the Scarlet King Snake (Ophibolus 

 doliatus coccineus), but the poisonous snake (Elaps) has broad 

 scarlet rings and equal-sized rings of black, while the yellow is 

 very narrow barely a scale and borders the black; moreover, 

 when we speak of rings, it should be understood that the colours 

 completely encircle the body. The Scarlet King Snake (Opln- 

 bolus) is exactly like Cemophora above, but the former is ringed 

 with the colours. Examined from the side, the Scarlet Snake 

 might elicit a description, thus: Large scarlet blotches broadly 

 bordered with black, and separated by bands of yellow.* 



Dimensions. The writer's largest example is 25 inches Icng 

 and one-half of an inch in diameter at the thickest part of the body. 

 It was captured near Micco, Florida, and easily swallowed full- 

 grown mice; this is considerably over the average size, which is 

 given: 



Total Length 1 6 inches 



Length of fail 2j 



Greatest Diameter 



Width of Head T \ 



Length of Head 



Distribution. The southeastern United States; South Caro- 

 lina (inclusive) throughout Florida and westward to the Miss- 

 issippi River. Most abundant in the low, coastal region. 



Habits. The handsome little Scarlet Snake resembles the 

 King Snakes in habits, feeding upon such small creatures as the 

 ground lizard (Lygosoma), the "blue-tail" (Eumeces), the 

 brown snake (Raided) and the young of the ring-necked snake, 

 (Diadophis), besides the young of wild mice. The writer has 

 collected numbers of these reptiles under the bark of fallen and 

 decaying trees. In such conditions, when disclosed, their bril- 

 liant colours are in startling contrast to the sombre hues of the 

 damp wood. The species appears to be very secretive and to 

 pass most of the time burrowing its way with the aid of the sharp 

 snout in a search for the prey. Owing to the prevalence of insect 



* Young specimens have milk-white bands, separating t'.ic black 

 !:-. or half-rings. 



374 



