Small, Keeled-scaled Serpents 



Colouration. The peculiar markings produce the effect 

 of a snake with keeled scales. The upper-surfaces are blue- 

 black, each scale shining and opalescent. In the centre of each 

 scale, and particularly noticeable on the sides, is a very narrow 

 and faint line of a pale hue; unless examined very closely, these 

 lines look precisely like keels. Mr. Arthur Erwin Brown re- 

 marks: "It is possible that the bright line on the dorsal scales 

 may indicate the former presence of keels, but lately lost." 



The sides of the neck are obscurely ban ded with dull yellow 

 the bands extending lengthwise. 



For the greater part of its length, the abdomen is brick- 

 red, crossed by narrow black bars, but this characteristic is not 

 evident toward the tail. 



Dimensions. The measurements are of an adult, female 

 specimen, taken near Lake Kerr, Marion County, Florida: 



Total Length i6f inches. 



Length of Tail 2f 



Greatest Diameter " 



Width of Head f " 



Length of Head T 9 e " 



Distribution. Found only in Florida. 



Habits. The few captive specimens observed by the writer 

 refused such food as young frogs, fishes, earthworms and sala- 

 manders. They spent their time in hiding under a piece of 

 bark in their cage. The specimen from which the measurements 

 were taken gave birth to eleven young on the 2oth of August; 

 the young were as indifferent to food as the parent; their col- 

 ouration was exactly like her. They were fond of laying in the 

 water of their drinking dish; their skins were shed under water. 



Wild examples are to be found under logs, along the borders 

 of creeks and ponds, or in swamps. 



The Genus Liodytes: Contains a single species, confirfed to 

 Florida; it is related to a Central American and Mexican genus 

 Helicops. 



ALLEN'S SNAKE; MUD SNAKE; SWAMP SNAKE 



Liodytes alleni, (Garman) 



Size moderate. Body stout, tapering suddenly toward the 

 neck; head proportionately very small and not distinct from 



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