196 NEW - YORK ZQ@OUGGICAL SOCIETY. 
smooth-scaled species of the Family Scincidae. Numerous cap- 
tive specimens of the Harlequin Snake have fed upon the blue- 
tailed lizard (Eumeces quinquelineatus), while specimens of the 
large South American Coral Snake (FE. corallinus) have taken 
adult specimens of the red-headed lizard (Eumeces quinqueline- 
atus erythrocephalus) fully nine inches in length, and of stout 
proportions. The lizards show much more susceptibilty to the 
action of the poison than snakes. 
Similarity to Harmless Snakes.—lIn all districts where species 
of the genus Elaps are found, various species of harmless snakes 
occur, evincing a remarkable similarity in colors and in pattern. 
On these we find the brilliant scarlet, yellow and the black rings, 
together with the certain elegance of form that distinguishes the 
Coral Snakes to a degree that would at once confuse any but the 
technically informed. 
Careful examination will demonstrate a valuable character that 
may be generally employed in distinguishing the venomous from 
the harmless reptiles. It will be noted that in the case of the 
poisonous snake, the black rings are single, and bordered by a 
pair of yellow rings. With the harmless species the yellow rings 
are single, and bordered by a pair of black rings. The most 
remarkable instance of resemblance noted by the writer between 
a species of Elaps and a non-yenomous serpent occurred in a 
series of snakes received from southern Mexico. The Elaps in 
question was a variety of E. fulvius, a form with narrow black 
rings, separated by very wide interspaces of red, the black nar- 
rowly and obscurely bordered with yellow. The harmless snake 
was the Ophibolus micropholis, a reptile closely related to the 
Red King Snake, Ophibolus doliatus, of our southern. states. 
The serpent in question possessed the narrow black rings sepa- 
rated by wide spaces of red, but close examination disclosed a 
faint and very narrow yellow ring within the black. Hurriedly 
examined, these snakes might have been pronounced identical. 
To add to the deception, the head of each was black, with a 
yellow band crossing the temples. Such conditions point to some 
definite provision of Nature. It would be a bold assertion, and 
but a mere theory, to declare that the harmless snake has ac- 
quired the coloration of the poisonous reptile in order that it 
might inspire respect from its enemies. It appears certain, how- 
ever, that this similarity of pattern and color and form, between 
creatures that are separated in classification by marked internal 
differences in structure, should indicate no uncertain process of 
evolution, but one which is governed by conditions as yet un- 
known to man. 
