326 REPTILES OF MA.SSACHUSETTS. 



convex, projecting, yellow, bordered with black at its upper 

 and lateral margins ; the first pair of plates, nearly quadrangu- 

 lar ; the second, pentagonal ; of the three between the eyes, 

 the middle, which is largest, is hexagonal ; those at the sides 

 of this, over the eyes, are pentagonal ; the two posterior plates, 

 pentagonal. Sixteen plates border the upper jaw. Eyes 

 large. Nostrils large, vertical, situated between the second 

 and third plates, back of the snout. Three pairs of elongated 

 plates on the throat, just back of the chin ; back of these 

 plates, two pairs of smaller plates anterior to the abdominal 

 plates. The whole back covered with large rhomboidal smooth 

 scales. Body somewhat compressed at the anterior extremity ; 

 cylindrical at the posterior, gradually tapering to the tail, from 

 which it more suddenly becomes smaller, and terminates in a 

 point. Length of the tail, eleven inches. 



The abdominal plates are 184 ; the caudal scales, 85. 



This species is generally met with in wild and unfrequented 

 places ; it is avoided as venomous by many, although perfectly 

 harmless. It feeds upon the toad, and several species oi frogs ; 

 oftentimes it catches small birds. Mr. Erastus H. Clap informs 

 me that he saw one that had swallowed a common sized speci- 

 men of the Robin, •' Twdus migratorius,^' entire ; it is said 

 also to prey upon the different species of meadoiv mice. 



C. amaenus. Say. The red Sfiake. 



JouriKil Acad. Nat. Sciences, vol. iv p, 237. 

 Harlan's Med. and Phys. lies. p. 118. 



A single specimen of this species has been received from 

 Professor Adams, who found it at Amherst ; this specimen be- 

 ing preserved in spirits, and its natural character somewhat 

 affected thereby, I avail myself of the very accurate descrip- 

 tion of Say : 



" Body above, reddish brown ; beneath, vivid red ; head not 

 larger than the neck, obtusely rounded before ; terminal plate 

 curving a little on the top of the head, so as to be nearly hori- 



