79 



Little is known about the habits of this innocent little serpent. DeKay 

 states that it is found hiding under logs and stones. Mr. Sampson, of 

 New Harmony, told me that he found it under the dead leaves in the 

 forests. Its movements are probably nocturnal. Holbrook adds that it 

 lives on insects. Dr. J. A. Allen states that it is decidedly subterrestrial 

 in its habits, and is more frequently turned up by the plow or hoe than 

 seen crawling on the surface. It seeks to bury itself when thus exposed. 

 Observations on the breeding habits are needed. 



Genus FARANCIA, Gray. 



Farancia, Gray, 1842, 73, 68 ; Baird and Girard, 1853, 6, 123. 



Head slightly distinct from the body. Crown-shields eight, the pre- 

 frontals being united. No anteorbital, the postfrontal and the loral en- 

 tering into the orbit. Two postorbitals. Nasal single, grooved below 

 the nostril. Scales not keeled ; arranged in nineteen rows. Anal plate 

 divided. Size large. 



Farancia abacura, (Holbrook). 

 Horn-snake. Checkered-snake. 



Coluber abacurus, Holbrook, 1836, 53, i, 119, pi. 23; Helieops ahacurus, 

 Holbrook, 1842, 5J/., iii, 111, pi. 26; Farancia ahacurus, Baird and Girard, 

 1853, 6, 123 ; Hydrops abacurus, Dura, and Bib., 1854, 7^, atlas, pi. 65; 

 Garman, 1883, 13, 36, pi. 1, fig. 5. 



A snake reaching a large size. Head scarcely distinct from the body. 

 Crown-shieWs normal, except that the prefrontals of the opposite sides 

 are fused into one. No anteorbital. Loral and postfrontal forming an- 

 terior border of the orbit. Rostral low. Nasal single, groove below the 

 nostril. Postorbitals two. Upper labials 7, the eye over 3d and 4th. 

 Lower labials 8 or 9. Scales smooth and shining; arranged in 19 rows. 

 Ventral plates 171 to 203; subcaudals 35 to 47. Anal plate divided. 



The ground color may be regarded as blue-black. The sides are marked 

 with about sixty transverse bands or wedges of bright red, which in some 

 cases extend nearly to the middle of the back. These bands sometimes 

 extend downward to the middle of the belly, and either join or alternate 

 those of the opposite side. Since the red has definite margins and con- 

 trast strongly with the black, the belly has a checkered appearance. The 

 head above is dark blue, with the plates tinged with red on their margins. 

 Upper labials red, with a blue spot on each. 



This snake reaches a large size, contrasting in this respect with its rela- 

 tives, Carphoiihis and Virginia. One mentioned by Mr. S. Garman is 

 54 inches long, of which 5.6 is tail. This species is distributed from South 

 Carolina to Louisiana and Central Arkansas, and up the Mississippi Val- 

 ley to Knox County, Indiana. It and its eggs have been sent from 



