42 



There are seven different kinds of coral snakes, 

 all rare ; but they are mentioned in order to 

 complete the poisonous snakes. 



A general description of a coral snake will suffice. 



A CoKAti Snake. 



Xcng'^^— Generally about 2 feet or under. One is only 

 13 inches and another grows to 4 or 5 feet. 

 They are small snakes. 

 Shape — Head : short ; not distinct from neck. 

 Body : long and slender. 

 Tail : sliort. 



Ej'e : with rounrl pupil. 

 Teeth : an erect, short poison-fang. 

 Head shields— The third supra-labial touches the nasal 

 (as a rule) and the eye. (The only other 

 snakes which have this feature are the cobra 

 and king cobra with which the coral snakes are 

 not likely to be confused. Hence a coral 

 snake can be recognised by this feature alone.) 

 (Fig.ll.) 

 There is no loreal. 

 Scales — 13. 



FcnfraZs— Considerably over 200. The anal generally 

 bifid, but is entire in one or two rare Burmese 

 specimens. 

 Sub-caudals under 50, double. 

 Colouring — The various species vary in colour. Some are 

 black with red heads and tails, others reddish 

 brown, j'ellow or red. Most are marked with 

 transverse or longitudinal bands or lines and 

 in most the belly is red or pink, either uniform 

 or transversely marked. 



