CHAPTER XXXIV: THE GREEN SNAKES 



Representatives of the Genera CYCLOPHIS and LI OPE LT IS— 

 Small Serpents That are of a Uniform, Pale Green Above, and 

 Thus Characteristic Among North American Snakes 



Two species of small, pale green serpents occur in North 

 America, where both are widely distributed. Owing to their 

 uniform colour — without traces of markings — they are quite dis- 

 tinct and may be immediately recognised. However, to the 

 popular eye, it may appear diflkult to separate these species, 

 as one precisely matches the other in colouration of the upper 

 surface. It is by the scalation that they may be at once recog- 

 nised. Although closely related, they belong to different 

 genera. Peculiar to say, both of these snakes appeal to genera 

 that contain a number of Old World species, while the North 

 American species stand as single representatives of their groups 

 in the New World. A simple key for the determination of these 

 snakes is given, and is followed by detailed descriptions of the 

 American species and the genera to which they belong: 



Scales keeled; green above; yellowish beneath. 



KEELED-SCALED GREEN SNAKE, Cyclophis (tsUvUS. 



Scales smooth; green above, whitish beneath. 



GREEN snake; GRASS SNAKE, Liopeltis vemalis. 



The Genus Cyclophis: A number of species occur in the 

 temperate and tropical regions of Asia. All are of small size 

 and the majority are of a uniform green, yellow or brown above. 

 These reptiles show arboreal habits and are mainly insectivorous. 

 A description of the only North American species follows: 



THE KEELED-SCALED GREEN SNAKE; GREEN WHIP 

 SNAKE; MAGNOLIA SNAKE 

 Cyclophis cesiivus, (Linn.) 

 Slender in form, with very long and gradually tapering tail. 

 The scales are distinctly keeled. 



322 



