Small, Keeled-scaled Serpents 



Colouration. — The peculiar markings produce tiie effect 

 of a snake with keeled scales. The upper-surfaces are blue- 

 black, each scale shining and opalescent. In the centre of each 

 scale, and particularly noticeable on the sides, is a very narrow 

 and faint line of a pale hue; unless examined very closely, these 

 lines look precisely like keels. Mr. Arthur Erwin Brown re- 

 marks: "It is possible that the bright line on the dorsal scales 

 may indicate the former presence of keels, but lately lost." 



The sides of the neck are obscurely banded with dull yellow — 

 the bands extending lengthwise. 



For the greater part of its length, the abdomen is brick- 

 red, crossed by narrow black bars, but this characteristic is not 

 evident toward the tail. 



Dimensions. — The measurements arc of an adult, female 

 specimen, taken near Lake Kerr, Marion County, Florida: 



Total Length i6j inches. 



Length of Tail 2| 



Greatest Diameter i " 



Width of Head J " 



Length of Head j\ " 



Distribution. — Found only in Florida. 



Habits. — The few captive specimens observed by the writer 

 refused such food as young frogs, fishes, earthworms and sala- 

 manders. They spent their time in hiding under a piece of 

 bark in their cage. The specimen from which the measurements 

 were taken gave birth to eleven young on the 20th of August; 

 the young were as indifferent to food as the parent; their col- 

 ouration was exactly like her. They were fond of laying in the 

 water of their drinking dish; their skins were shed under water. 



Wild examples are to be found under logs, along the borders 

 of creeks and ponds, or in swamps. 



The Genus Liodytes: Contains a single species, confined to 

 Florida; it is related to a Central American and Mexican genus 

 — Helicops. 



ALLEN'S SNAKE; MUD SNAKE; SWAMP SNAKE 



Liodytes alleni, (Carman) 

 Size moderate. Body stout, tapering suddenly toward the 

 neck; head proportionately very small and not distinct from 



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