122 



The Coral-snake is doubtless the most highly colored and beautiful 

 snake that is to be found in the United States. It is moderately common 

 in extreme Southern States, but, to our surprise, it has recently been 

 taken in southeastern Indiana. Prof. A. J. Bigney, of Moore's Hill 

 College, has shown me a specimen that was captured about a year ago 

 two miles from the village of Milan, in Ripley county. The specimen 

 is a typical Elaps fulvius, 22.5 inches long. It has 212 ventral plates 

 and 45 subcaudals. It appears wholly unlikely that this specimen was 

 accidentally introduced where it was found. That the species is really 

 an inhabitant of that region is rendered stiil more probable from the fact 

 that another specimen was taken near there, in Hamilton county, Ohio. 

 It is preserved in the collection of the Cincinnati Society of Natural His- 

 tory (A. W. Butler in 94 for 1892). This occurrence of the Coral-snake 

 in that portion of Indiana indicates that it will be f:-und all along the 

 southern border of the State, and thence down the Mississippi River to 

 the Gulf. 



Habits. — The Coral-snake ap})ears to be somewhat sluggish in its dis- 

 position. It is poisonous, but it is said to bite only when provoked. In 

 the American Naturalist for 1883, page 26, Prof. True has given us evi- 

 dence of the ability of the snake to inflict dangerous bites. Several cases 

 are reported, some of which proved fatal. However, on account of the 

 smallness of the serpent's mouth, the shortness of its poison-fangs, and 

 their backward position, it seems probable that dangerous wounds could 

 be inflicted only on some such organ as the fingers or the toes. I do not 

 know anything about the breeding habits of this genus. The Coral-snake 

 appears to have the habit of capturing and eating other serpents. In 

 volume xxii of the Encyclopedia Briiannica is an illustration of one which 

 is swallowing another snake almost as large as itself. In the alimentary 

 canal of a specimen 21 inches long, from Florida, I have found a Storeria 

 13.5 inches long. 



Persons who are living in the southern portion of the State ought to be 

 on the watch for this strikingly colored snake, and all specimens of it 

 should be sent where they wull be preserved for study. 



Famil:y II. CROTALID^. 



Form usually thick and short. Head triangular, broad behind, flat, 

 and distinctly separated from the body by a small neck. Maxillary bone 

 much shortened, moying freely on the lachrymal and supporting a single 

 functional, enlarged, tubular tooth, or poison fang, which is capable of 

 erection and of concealment under a fold of the lining of the mouth. 

 A deep pit between the nostril and the eye, Poison glands at the sides 

 of the head behind. Pupil oblong, perpendicular. Scales keeled. Anal 

 plates entire. Tail short. All venomous. 



