The Elapine Poisonous Snakes 



serpents are more emphatic in their declarations of anger, while 

 the Coral Snake, rather sluggish in attitude, may be mistaken 

 in its demeanour to be "good natured." It should be explained 

 that the rattlesnakes and their allies usually become quite tame 

 as captives, when they will submit to being handled with ap- 

 parent good nature. 



The Coral Snake differs from crotaline* snakes in seldom or 

 never striking at the object of its anger. If cornered it will lie 

 sullenly motionless, or throw its body into a series of irregular 

 loops, under which the head is often hidden. If unduly annoyed 

 the reptile behaves in a peculiar manner. It twists from side 

 to side, lying motionless for a few seconds, then throwing itself 

 into a different position. The movements are jerky and erratic 

 and seemingly without purpose. Then the reptile is treacherous 

 and dangerous. Its movements are lightning-like and quite 

 different from those displayed by the majority of snakes. If 

 touched lightly upon the side, the small head is swung around and 

 the jaws grasp the offending object, when the serpent chews 

 until the small but formidable fangs have been imbedded a num- 

 ber of times. 



In unpacking freshly captured specimens, the writer has 

 frequently seen them turn and bite with the rapidity of a steel 

 spring suddenly released from tension. This act of biting is 

 unattended by any sign of warning. It may be caused by the 

 simple touch of a stick against the snake's body. The amount 

 of venom yielded at such times is a mute illustration of the crea- 

 ture's power of doing damage. A moment previous to this ex- 

 hibition, the snake may be perfectly motionless and in an ap- 

 parent state of lethargy. Thus does the Coral Snake defend itself 

 with a poison which resembles that of the Cobra-de-capello. 

 Surely it would not be appropriate, after noting such observations, 

 to describe this snake as "mildly poisonous" or "innocuous to 

 man and the larger animals." 



Like all of the snakes representing the genus Elaps, the 

 Coral Snake is of burrowing habits. It is sometimes found hiding 

 under the bark of decaying logs, and is often exhumed in plough- 

 ing. After heavy showers and at night it issues forth in search 

 of food, which consists of snakes and lizards. The species is very 



^Comprehensive title for the sub-family to which the rattlesnake, 

 copperhead, moccasin and allies belong. 



399 



