191Jf\ Animal Life of North Carolina 83 



recorded fish, fauna upon a plane where it will compare most 

 favorably with any other state. Dr. Smith acknowledges help 

 from many co-workers, among them the Messrs. Brimley, and 

 Prof. Gudger and Dr. Wilson of our Academy of Science. 



V. REPTILES AND BATRACHIANS 



The species of this group furnish a most excellent basis for 

 studies in geographical distribution as they do not migrate to 

 any considerable extent. While the number of species is not 

 great many of them are of secretative habits, and as the group 

 as a whole bears a rather unfavorable reputation, few persons 

 have undertaken the serious study of our native forms. In no 

 other group of animals is there so much of popular misunder- 

 standing, superstition, unfounded tradition and fear. 



A few specialists from outside have taken an interest in our 

 fauna in. this group, but the bulk of our data, which is now con- 

 siderable, has been both secured and preserved by our fellow- 

 member and proficient herpetologist, Mr. C. S. Brimley. Our 

 reptile fauna is richest in the east, the batrachians are more 

 evenly distributed over the whole state with many species con- 

 fined to the mountain springs and rills. The forms occurring at 

 Raleigh and Havelock are reasonably well known, and of those 

 at Wilmington, Kinston, Black Mountain, Blantyre (Transyl- 

 vania Co.), Andrews (Cherokee) and Sunburst (Haywood), 

 the study is well advanced, while lesser but material contribu- 

 tions to what is kno\^Ti come from a number of other well-dis- 

 tributed and significant localities, including Beaufort, Cape 

 Hatteras, White Lake (Bladen), Southern Pines, Greensboro, 

 Winston, Highlands, Blowing Rock, Roan Mountain and Burns- 

 ville. 



Here again I may call attention to a gap in our knowledge 

 of an important animal. The Coral Snake, which is a poisonous 

 species, is generally reputed to range from about Charleston, 

 S. C, to the southward. There is one recent, authoritative rec- 

 ord of its occurrence at Southern Pines. Presumably it oc- 

 curs sparingly in other parts of our south-eastern area, but 

 exactly where it does occur, no one knows. The distribution of 



