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 Green 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 Geeeh Shake, called also Grass Snake, in the Northern States, inhabits 
from Massachusetts to Pennsylvania. 
Oontia , a genus of Baird and Giraud, has three species, C. mitis, of California. 
The Rihh-hecked Shake ( Diadophis punctatus ), called also the Little Black and Red 
Snake, inhabits from Maine to Florida. Another species, D. amabilis , inhabits California ; 
D. docilis, Texas ; D. pulchellus, 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 Scaelet Shake ( Oemophora coccinea ) inhabits the Gulf States. It is an exceed- 
ingly handsome reptile ; richly colored. 
Hhinochilus lecontei is a form discovered by Lecont in San Diego, California. 
The Beowh Shake ( Haldea striatula) inhabits from Virginia to the Gulf States. 
The Hoeh Shake (. 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 Woem Shake, called also Geouhd Shake ( Oarphophiops amcenus ), inhabits from 
Pennsylvania to Gulf States. 
The genus Tantilla embraces two species, each of the Southern States. 
The small Beowh Shake ( Storeria dekayi) 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 Stoeee’s Shake (S. occipito maculata). 
A family of North American Reptiles named Boidce , is characterized by the individuals 
having rudimentary hinder limbs, or spur-like appendages, situated near the anas. The 
Lead-colored Wehoha ( Charina plumbea ) inhabits Puget Sound. C. bottce is another 
species, found in the same region. 
Beazil possesses a most lovely example of these Serpents, the Emeeald Whip Shake 
(. Philodryas mridissimus). 
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 
