Hurter — Herpetology of Missouri. 199 



pelled to bite in order to inflict a wound and their mouth 

 is so small that they can hardly be considered a very for- 

 midable reptile. When enraged they have a peculiar way 

 of drawing back after each attempt is made to strike and 

 instead of forming an almost perfect coil, as it is usual 

 with some other snakes, will only half coil their body, 

 with its beautifully colored bands, coiling and uncoiling 

 with confusing rapidity. ' ' 



The Coral Snake belongs to a family which contains 

 some of the most poisonous snakes, such as the Cobra di 

 Capello and the Australian Tiger Snake, which are pro- 

 vided with a venom that is more deadly in effect than that 

 of the Pit- Vipers (Rattlesnakes, Copperheads and Cot- 

 ton-mouths). Because the Harlequin Snake has compara- 

 tively short fangs many people think it a poisonous snake, 

 but only slightly so. This is, however, a dangerously 

 poisonous snake. Beginners in Herpetology should be 

 very careful to learn to distinguish the Coral Snake from 

 the red and yellow ringed Lampropeltis. 



Ditmars in his Reptile Book says ^^The Coral Snake 

 differs from Pit-vipers in seldom or never striking at the 

 object of its anger. If cornered it will lie sullenly mo- 

 tionless, or throw its body into a series of irregular loops, 

 under which the head is often hidden. If unduly annoyed 

 the reptile behaves in a peculiar manner. It twists from 

 side to side, lying motionless for a few seconds, then 

 throwing itself into a different position. The mo vemer-^ 

 are jerky and erratic and seemingly without purpose. 

 Then the reptile is treacherous and dangerous. Its move- 

 ments are lightning-like and quite different from those 

 displayed by the majority of snakes. If touched lightly 

 upon the side, the small head is swung around and the 

 jaws grasp the offending object, which the serpent chews 

 until the small but formidable fangs have been imbedded 

 a number of times. ^' 



It may be well to site a few cases of the harm done by 

 this reptile as a warning to those who see in it only a 

 beautiful inoffensive-looking snake. 



