48 GLEANINGS FROM NATURE. 



chances for recovery are small, no matter if the 

 promptest of medical attention is obtained. Happily, 

 such a bite does not often occur. 



The fourth and last species of poisonous reptiles 

 occurring in Indiana is the coral or bead Bn&k^JSlaps 

 fulvius (L.). Unlike the "pit vipers," its head is but 

 slightly distinct from the body. It lacks the pit be- 

 tween the . eye and nostril, and the 

 The Coral or . f > A i 



Bead Snake. P olson tan * tlie upper jaw is per- 

 manently erect instead of movable at 

 will. It is one of the most handsome of American 

 snakes, being possessed of a slender body which is 

 encircled by alternate bands of jet 

 black and bright red, the latter 

 color merging into yellow near the 

 edges of the bands. The front por- 

 tion of the head is black, while the 

 hind portion is encircled by a band 

 Fig. is-Head of Coral o f bright yellow. The total length 



Snake, shown from . * 



top and side. (After IS leSS than 2J feet. 



Bairdl) In the southern States the bead 



snake is rather common and the extreme northern 

 limit of its range is probably the southern half of In- 

 diana and Ohio. In this State, but a single specimen, 

 taken near Milan, Ripley County, has been recorded. 

 Of its food habits but little is known, but that little 

 goes to show that it is a cannibal, eating harmless 

 snakes with evident gusto, since Dr. Stejneger records 

 one as having swallowed a black snake as long as 

 itself, before it had fully digested a garter snake taken 

 at a previous meal. Much discussion has taken place 

 concerning the ability of the coral snake to inflict dan- 



