The Sharp-nosed Snakes 



Colouration. — Red or deep orange, with black cross-bands, 

 which nearly reach the abdominal plates; the lower ends of these 

 bands are rounded; they are separated by interspaces of ground- 

 colour about as wide as the bands themselves. The black 

 extends about the tail to nearly form rings, but is narrowly broken 

 in the central portion of the undersurface. Top of head black; 

 snout red. 



Dimensions. — Total length about 9 inches; tail, \\ inches. 



Dislributiott.— Nevada, and Arizona — probably to southern 

 California. 



THE ARIZONA GROUND SNAKE 

 Chilomeniscus ductus, (Cope) 



Differs from the preceding by an arrangement of the head 

 shields: "Nasal separated from the preocular by the prefrontals, 

 which reach the labials." The colouration is also different. 



Colouration. — Reddish-white, the body encircled by broad 

 black rings, which are narrower on the abdomen. 



Distribution. — Three specimens are known; two were taken 

 in southern Arizona and the other in Lower California. 



The Genus Cemophora: One species known. It is bril- 

 liantly marked with scarlet, yellow and black. Head small and 

 sharply conical, the rostral plate projecting forward slightly, 

 in pointed fashion. A loreal plate; scales in 19 rows; ventral 

 plate entire. 



THE SCARLET SNAKE 

 Cemophora coccinea, (Blumenbach) 



Also called Coral Snake. It is one of the species that "mimics" 

 the poisonous Coral Snake (Elaps). 



Size small; body moderately slender and very cylindrical — 

 not tapering until near the head and tail; head not distinct. 

 Snout pointed and projecting; eye small. One or two preocular 

 plates. 



Colouration. — Wide scarlet blotches, separated by pairs of 

 black half-rings, the latter enclosing a yellow half-ring about 

 three scales wide. The scales in the yellow band are usually 

 tipped or dotted with black. Abdomen immaculate white or 

 yellow. Top of the head red or orange, with a black bar across 

 the eyes. 



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