CHAPTER XXXIX: THE SHARP-NOSED SNAKES 



The Genera CARPHOPHIS, FICIMIA, CHILOMENISCUS, 

 CEMOPHORA and RHINOCHILUSSmall, Burrowing 

 Species, with Smooth Scales 



FOLLOWING the rather miscellaneous smooth-scaled ser- 

 pents of the preceding chapters, the writer is able to group several 

 genera, and in fairly regular arrangement, under the title of the 

 Sharp-nosed Snakes; all of these have smooth scales. As most 

 of the species to be described are persistent burrowers, the snout 

 is either conical, or much depressed and with a sharp edge hence 

 a striking characteristic that may be immediately understood 

 by the beginner. 



Key to the Sharp-nosed Snakes 



A. Size small. Plates under the tail divided. 

 a. Ventral plate divided. 



1 . Colouration uniform no rings or blotches. 



Head very small and sharply conical; no preocular 

 plate toreal touching eye; one postocular plate. 

 Scales in 1 3 rows. Genus Carphophis. 



Brown above; pink beneath. 



WORM SNAKE, C. amoenus. 



Distribution. New England to Florida; westward 

 to Kansas. 



2. Colouration in transverse blotches or half-rings, red 

 forming one of the colours. 



Head slightly distinct ; snout very sharp and conical 

 slightly upturned; rear border of the rostral extend- 

 ed barkward on head. No loreal plate. One preocu- 

 lar plate. Scales in 17 rows. Genus ricimia. 



Reddish or orange, with brown, black-edged cross- 

 bands, breaking into spots on sides. Abdomen yellow- 

 ish. DOG-NOSED SNAKE, F. cana. 

 Distribution. Southwestern U. S. and Mexico. 



Head not distinct; snout, as seen from side, very sharp 

 appears rounded, from above. No loreal plate. 

 One preocular plate. Scales in 13 rows. 



Genus Chilomeniscus. 



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