The S.taarp-nosed Snakes 



the head looks much pointed; from the side, the effect is similar 

 to the Hog-nosed Snakes, Heterodon — described in a succeeding 

 chapter, but from those serpents the present reptile may be 

 easily told by its smooth scales. 



The teeth of the upper jaw are smooth and of equal size. 

 The rear border of the rostral (nose) plate, extends backward 

 on the head between the pair of plates {iniernasah) situated 

 near the snout, and the prefrontals (the pair following the inter- 

 nasals). 



THE DOG-NOSED SNAKE 

 Ficimia cana, (Cope) 



Scales in seventeen rows. No loreal plate. 



Colouration. — Reddish or orange-yellow, with reddish-brown, 

 dark-edged cross-bands, about thirty in number, which show a 

 tendency to break up into spots or small blotches on the sides. 

 Abdomen immaculate yellowish-white. 



A brown band crosses the head in front of the eyes, extending 

 downward to the lip plates; there is another band across the 

 rear portion of the head. 



Dimensions. — Length about 8 inches, of which the tail oc- 

 cupies about I J inches. 



Distribution. — Western Texas to Arizona; northern Mexico. 



The Genus Chilomeniscus: The species are persistent bur- 

 rowers. Their standing is rather doubtful; some authorities 

 recognise at least four, while others reduce the number to two 

 or one. 



In place of the conical snout of Ficimia, the head of the 

 present snakes is much flattened, almost spoon-shaped — though 

 not distinct from the neck — and the sharp-edged rostral forms 

 a useful scoop for burrowing; the rear border of this plate extends 

 backward on the head, separating the first pair of shields — the 

 intcrnasals. There is no loreal plate. The scales of the body 

 are in thirteen rows. 



THE RED AND BLACK GROUND SNAKE 

 Chilomeniscus ephippicus, (Cope) 

 The rear border of the rostral plate reaches the edge of the 

 second pair of plates behind it — separating the first pair (the 

 internasals) . 



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