136 THE EMERALD WHIP SNAKE 



tamed, and many persons are fond of carrying the beautiful creature about them, tying it 

 round their throats as a necklace, or as a bracelet on the wrist. The eye corresponds in 

 beauty to the rest of the person, being very large and of a beautiful topaz- yellow. 



The color of the (riven Snake is delicate grass-green above, and silvery-white below. 

 Its average length is about three feet. Its shape is much like the Black Snake, but it 

 is smaller. 



Its habitat is in the Southern States. 



Another species is found in Texas and Arkansas. 



The common (Jiiken Snake, called also Grass Snake, in the Northern States, inhabits 

 from Massachusetts to Pennsylvania. 



Contia, a genus of Band and Giraud, has three species, C. mitis, of California. 



The Ring-necked Snake {DiadopMs punotatus), called also the Little Black and Red 

 Snake, inhabits from Maine to Florida. Another species, D. amabilis, inhabits California; 

 D. docilis, Texas; I>. pulcheUus, California ; D. regalis, Mexico. 



Lodia is a genus of Baird and Giraud. L. tenuis is the species found in Puget Sound 

 region. 



Sonora is a genus of same authorities ; species semi-annalata, found in Mexico. 



The Scarlet Snake {Cemophora coccinea) inhabits the Gulf States. It is an exceed- 

 ingly handsome reptile; richly colored. 



Khinochilus lecontei is a form discovered by Lecont in San Diego, California. 



The Brown Snake {Hakim striatvla) inhabits from Virginia to the Gulf States. 



The Horn Sx are i Farancia abacura), called also Red-bellied Snake, inhabits the Gulf 

 States. Two other allied genera, Abaster and Virginia, with one species each, are known in 

 the Southern States. 



The Worm Snake, called also Ground Snake (CarphopMops amasnus), inhabits from 

 Pennsylvania to Gulf States. 



The genus Tantilla embraces two species, each of the Southern States. 



The small Brown Snake (Storeria deTcayi) found rather common from New York 

 State to the Gulf States. It is a small gray form, with minute spots of black along its 

 upper parts. 



Another species is Stoker's Snake (S. occipito maculata). 



A family of North American Reptiles named Roida\ is characterized by the individuals 

 having rudimentary hinder limbs, or spur-like appendages, situated near the anas. The 

 Lead-colored Wenona (Charina plumbea) inhabits Puget Sound. C. bottm is another 

 species, found in the same region. 



Brazil possesses a most lovely example of these Serpents, the Emerald Whip Snake 

 ( PJi ilodryas viridissim us). 



Dr. Wucherer, of Bahia, writes as follows concerning this pretty species in a letter 

 quoted by Sir J. E. Tennent, in his -'Natural History of Ceylon": "I am always delighted 

 when I find that another tree-Snake has settled in my garden. You look for a bird's nest: 

 the young ones have gone, but you find their bed occupied by one of these beautiful creatures, 

 which will coil up its body of two foot in length within a space not larger than the hollow of 

 your hand. 



'They appear to be always watchful, for at the instant you discover one, the quick 

 playing of the long, black, forked tongue, will show you that you, too, are observed. On 



