So far as is known, these runners do not eat birds' eggs; in any 

 case, in their stomach- intestinal tract remains of egg shells have not 

 been found. I note that in its external morphology the red-backed 

 runner in general differs comparatively little from the patterned one, 

 but in contrast to the latter, leads a semi-aquatic life, eating small 

 fish and amphibians, and are oviviparous snakes. 



This whole discussion about the structure of the spinal column in 

 snakes in the food of which hard- lime- shel led eggs are known to occur, 

 has led me to the conclusion that Dasypel t is and Elachistodon cannot 

 be separated as special -- or a special -- subfamilies, as is presently 

 done . 



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