196 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



smooth-scaled species of the Family Scincidac. Xumerous cap- 

 tive specimens of the Harlequin Snake have fed upon the blue- 

 tailed lizard (Eiiiiieces qiiinquelineatus) , while specimens of the 

 large South American Coral Snake (F.. corallinus) have taken 

 adult specimens of the red-headed lizard {Eumeces qiiinqueline- 

 atus erythrocephaliis) 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. — In 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 

 ])oisonous snake, the black rings are single, and bordered by a 

 pair of yellozv rings. With the harmless species the yelloiv 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-venomous serpent occurred in a 

 series of snakes received from southern Mexico. The Elaps in 

 question was a variety of E. fiilviiis, 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 Ophibolns micro pholis, a reptile closely related to the 

 Red King Snake, Ophibolns doliatus. of our soulhern states. 

 The serpent in question possessed the narrow l)lack rings se])a- 

 rated by wide spaces of red, but close cxaiuinalii m disclosed a 

 faint and very narrow yellow ring within the black. Hurriedly 

 examined, these snakes might have been ])ronounced identical. 

 To add to the deception, the head of cacli was black, with a 

 vellow band crossing the temples. Such conditions point to some 

 definite provision of Nature. It would be a bold assertion, and 

 but a imrc theory, to declare that the liarDiKss snake has ac- 

 (juired the coloration of the poisonous reptile in order that it 

 might inspire respect from its enemies, it a])pears certain, how- 

 ever, that this similarity of pattern and coU)r and form, between 

 creatures that are separated in classification by marked internal 

 differences in structtu-e, should indicate no uncerlain process of 

 evolution, but one which is gDverned b\ ci inditions :is yel un- 

 known to man. 



