4H GLEANINGS ritn.M .\ATUItK 



chances tor recovery are small, no matter it' the 

 promptest of medical attention is obtained. Happily, 

 such a l)ite does not often occur. 



The fourth and last species of poisonous reptiles 

 occurring in Indiana is the coral or bead snake, J<Jnj>x 

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

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



tween tin- eve and nostril, and the 

 The Coral or f % ,, 



Bead Snake. P O1SOU fan g of the upper jaw 33 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 ' 



t.,p and side. (After IS less tliail 2f feet. 



BainU 111 the southern States the bead 



snake is rather common and the extreme northern 

 limit of its ran^e is probably the southern half of In- 



O J * 



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- 



