FAMILY COLUBERID^E. 49 



GENUS CALAMARIA. Bote, Wagler. 



Head small. Two frontal plates descending to form part of the orbit. One anterior and 

 one posterior orbital plate ; no loral plate. 



THE RED SNAKE 



Calamaria amcena. 



Colvber amaenus SaV, Acad. Nat. Sciences, Vol.4, p. 237 



C id. Harlan, Med. and Phys. Res. p. 118 



Zacholus id. Wagler. 



The Red Snake. Storer, Mass. Rep. p. 226 



Calamaria amcena. Holbrook, N. Am. Herpetology, Vol.4, pi. 27. 



Characteristics. Small. Reddish brown ; beneath red. Scales smooth. Tail short, abrupt. 

 Length 6-12 inches. 



Description. Body small, cylindrical, witli smooth polished elongated obscurely pentagonal 

 scales. Tail about one-seventh of the total length, abruptly attenuated to a solid corneous tip. 

 Head small, obtusely rounded ; terminal plate curving slightly on the top of the head, so as 

 to be nearly horizontal above. The first pair of plates short, broader than long ; second pair 

 rather large, oblique, the posterior outer angle reaching the eyes. Vertical plate convex, 

 rounded, sub-triangular, wide before, and angulated on the anterior middle ; the posterior 

 angle acute. Posterior plates a little convex, with a single scale between their tips. Eyes 

 with one scale behind ; one before, twice as long as the posterior one ; small plate above the 

 eye, less than half the length of the central plate. Teeth very minute. 



Color. Reddish brown or dark slate above ; beneath bright red, or rosaceous. 



Abdominal plates, 125-135. Length, 5-0-10-0. 



Caudal plates, 25- 35. Tail TO- 2"0. 



This is a beautiful little serpent, found under stones and logs. I have not met with it, but 

 have taken Say's description. Its present geographical limits extend from New-Hampshire to 

 Pennsylvania. 



(EXTRA-LIMITAL.) 



C. elapsoidea. (Holbrook, Vol. 4, pi. 28.) Small. Body scarlet, with 18 - 20 white rings, broadly 

 bordered on each side with black. Abdominal plates, 170 ; caudal, 38. Length 12-0. Carolina, 

 Georgia. 



C. striatula. (Id. Vol. 4. pi. 29.) 



Fauna — Part 3 



