THE CORAL SNAKE {Elaps corallinus) 



This virulently poisonous serpent inhabits South America and 

 the West Indies. It is a good instance of a vertebrate exhibiting 

 "warning coloration" (see Plate 7). It takes no pains to conceal 

 itself, and is rendered exceedingly conspicuous by rings of bright 

 and sharply contrasting colour. Carnivorous animals appreciating 

 snakes as an article of diet have learnt to leave this forrn severely 

 alone, though no doubt a certain number fall victims to inexperi- 

 enced enemies thus benefiting the species at the expense of the 

 individual. 



