The Rainbow Snakes 



other nourishment than water; they drink considerable quan- 

 tities. Thus the food habits are practically unknown with the 

 exception of the feeding of young individuals; they will occasion- 

 ally take earthworms. 



The Rainbow Snake is oviparous, depositing from 24 to 50 

 bluntly oval, white eggs, with a perfectly smooth integument. 

 A four-foot specimen laid 43 eggs on the jth of July; when de- 

 posited the eggs were i inches long and i inch in diameter; 

 they hatched on September i5th. The young snakes were 9^ 

 inches long and -^ of an inch in diameter at the thickest part 

 of the body. Another snake laid 40 eggs on July I3th, and a 

 third deposited 23 eggs on the i4th of August. 



THE RED-BELLIED SNAKE 



Paranoia abacura, (Holbrook) 



Also called the Rainbow Snake, Mud Snake, Horn Snake 

 and Hoop Snake. 



Proportions like the preceding. 



Colouration. Purplish-black above, with large, vermilion, 

 inverted V-shaped blotches on the sides. Abdomen rich ver- 

 milion with numerous black patches. 



The striking colouration and glassy surface of the scales, 

 cause this animal to be very distinct. On young examples the 

 red patches extend further up the sides, and there are indications 

 of red on the back, in the shape of narrow cross-bands. 



The sides of the head of the adult are reddish, with a row 

 of large, black spots extending along the upper lip plates (superior 

 labials}. 



Dimensions. The Red-bellied Snake attains a maximum 

 length of six feet. Following are the measurements of an adult 

 of average size: 



Total Length 49 inches. 



Length of Tail 6\ 



Greatest Diameter i " 



Width of Head ifc " 



Length of Head i 



Distribution. North Carolina, southward throughout Florida 

 and westward to Louisiana (inclusive). In the Mississippi Valley 

 the species has been found as far north as southern Indiana. It 

 is most abundant in the Gulf States. 



367 



