116 COLUBERERYTHROGRAMMUS. 



back, and nearly uniform in size throughout, the inferior row being a Httle larger. 

 The tail is longer and more slender than in C. abacurus. The specimen figured 

 had 178 abdominal plates, and 39 pairs of subcaudal scales. 



Colours. The head is dark blue: the marginal plates of both the upper and 

 lower lip are of a bright lemon-colour, each with a dark blue spot in the centre; 

 the throat is bright lemon-colour for about an inch and a half, when it becomes of 

 a pale straw-colour. A vertebral line of red begins at the occiput and runs to the 

 tail; on each side of this is another longer line of the same colour, reaching to the 

 extremity of the tail; each of these lines is of the breadth of a single scale, and 

 between them are broad bands of bluish-black, the breadth of three scales: beneath 

 the inferior longitudinal red line is another band of bluish-black, including two 

 scales and a half; and next is a third red band consisting also of two scales and 

 a half; the margins of the scales being straw-colour, give a lighter appearance to 

 the latter band. The plates of the abdomen are flesh-colour, with the posterior 

 margin pale straw, and on each are two large rounded spots of indigo blue, fomtiing 

 a line of blue spots on each side of the abdomen: a third spot is sometimes present 

 in the middle of the plates. 



Dimensions. Length of the head, tV of an inch; breadth across the temples, i 

 of an inch; circumference, 85 inches; length of head and body, 38 inches; tail, 5| 

 inches; total length, 3 feet 7^ inches. 



Geographical Distribution. This Serpent is by no means uncommon in 

 Carolina. I have often seen it on the banks of the Santee. Dr. Ravenel has 

 procured me specimens from the Cooper river, and Dr. Wurdeman from Green- 

 ville, South Carolina. 



Habits. This animal is found in swampy grounds and damp places, in holes in 

 the earth, or under the stumps of old trees, but never takes to the water. It 

 frequents the banks of rice fields, where it lies in wait for its prey, the large 

 rat that infests them, injuring at once the rice and the banks by burrowing in the 



