FAMILY COLUBERID^. 



GENUS CALAMARIA. Bote, Wagler. 



Head small. Two frontal plates descending to form part of the orbit. One antenor and 

 one posterior orbital plate ; no loral plate. 



THE RED SNAKE. 

 Calimaru amcena. 



Cobtber amoKus. Say, Acad. Nat. Sciences, Vol.4, p. 237 



C. id. Haslan, Med.and Phys. Res.p. 118. 



Zacholut id. Wagleb. 



The Red Smie. Stoeer, Mass. Rep. p. 226. 



Calamaria amama. HoLBEoaK, N. Am. Herpetology, Vol.4, pi. 27. 



Characteristics. Small. Reddish brown ; beneath red. Scales smooth. Tail short, abrupt. 

 Length 6-12 inches. 



Description. Body small, 'cyUndrical, with smooth polished elongated obscurely pentagonal 

 scales. Tail about one-seventh of the total length, abruptly attenuated to a sohd corneous tip. 

 Head small, obtusely rounded ; terminal plate curving slightly on the top of the head, so as 

 to be nearly horizontal above. The first pair of plates short, broader than long ; second pair 

 rather large, oblique, the posterior outer angle reaching the eyes. Vertical plate convex, 

 rounded, sub-triangular, wide before, and angulated on the anterior middle ; the posterior 

 angle acute. Posterior plates a little convex, with a single scale between their tips. Eyes 

 with one scale behind ; one before, twice as long as the posterior one ; small plate above the 

 eye, less than half the length of the central plate. Teeth very minute. 



Color. Reddish brown or dark slate above ; beneath bright red, or rosaceous. 



Abdominal plates 125-135. Length, 5-0-10-0. 



Caudal plates, 25- 35. Tail, I'O- 2-0. 



This is a beautiful little serpent, found under stones and logs. I have not met with it, but 

 have taken Say's description. Its present geographical limits extend from New-Hampshire to 

 Pennsylvania. 



{EXTRA-LIMITAL.) 



C. elapsoidea. (Holbrook, "Vol. 4, pi. 28.) Small. Body scarlet, with 18 - 20 white rings, broadly 

 bordered on each side with black. Abdominal plates, 170 ; caudal, 38. Length 12-0. CaroliTM, 

 Georgia. 



C. striatula. (Id. Vol. 4, pi. 29.) 



Fauna — Part 3. 7 



