The Rainbow Snakes 



Detailed descriptions: 



THE RAINBOW SNAKE 

 Abastor erythrogrammus (Daudin) 



Also called Mud Snake. A large and very showy serpent, 

 with smooth, glassy scales. 



Colouration. — Purplish-black, or rich, dark blue; along the 

 back from the neck to the tail are three stripes of dark red — 

 sometimes deep orange. A band of pale )'cllow on the sides 

 the width of three rows of scales. 



Abdomen red, with two rows of large, blue-black spots, 

 running the length of the body; between these is a row of much 

 smaller spots, beginning some distance down the neck and ex- 

 tending to within a short distance of the tail. 



Head dark, with obscure red markings; the upper lip plates 

 are yellow and each contains a large, black spot. 



Young specimens show the same pattern as the adult. 



Dimensions. — The writer's largest specimen was 4 feet, 9 

 inches long, with a diameter of 2 inches at the thickest part of 

 the body. This is considerably over the average size, given in 

 the following table: 



Total Length 48 inches. 



Length of fail 6^ 



Greatest Diameter ij 



Width of Head I " 



Length of Head 1 1 " 



Distribution. — Most abundant in the swampy, coastal region 

 of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. The range is from 

 Virginia to the Gulf of Mexico. This snake does not extend 

 as far westward as the succeeding species. 



Habits. — The Rainbow Snake lives in swampy, timbered 

 areas and along the borders of streams, where it burrows into 

 the damp soil or into and under decayed and fallen trees. When 

 freshly caught it will thrash about to escape, but seldom shows 

 the least symptom of hostility. 



As a captive, this snake always tries to hide in sand or moss, 

 and lives but a short time unless provided with a substance in 

 which it can burrow. Adult specimens cannot be induced to eat, 

 but will live and continue vigorous for many months without 



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