The Poisonous Snakes of Texas. 
23 
black, and embraces ten scales; the second is yellow and covers three 
scales. Two black and two yellow succeed and cover the same ground. 
The tip of the tail is black on five scales. The tip may be either black or 
yellow, for, according to the size, there are either three or four black 
rings. Underneath, the colors are the same, but dull; occasionally one 
or more black rings may not surround the body. The reddish spaces are 
irregularly blotched with deep black, as also sometimes on the upper sur- 
face.” (Stejneger, “Poisonous Snakes of North America.”) 
The harmless and useful “Ring King Snake,” Lampropeltis annulatus , 
is often, and I may say nearly always, mistaken for the poisonous Elaps ; 
few people note the difference, which, briefly stated, is, first, Elaps has 
poison fangs in the upper jaw. Lampropeltis has no poison fangs, and is 
harmless. Second, in Elaps , the black rings are bordered on each side 
with yellow. In Lampropeltis , the yellow rings are bordered on each side 
with a black ring. The Elaps is very poisonous, and should be destroyed. 
The Lampropeltis is not only harmless, but useful to the farmer, by 
destroying rats, mice, centipedes and other snakes, and should be pro- 
tected. 
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. 
It is common all along the Texas coast region, from my own observa- 
tion reaching inland as far as Houston, Columbus and San Antonio. 
^Stejneger gives also the Rio G-rande and Pecos rivers. Mr. John K. 
Strecker, Jr., says it is not uncommon in McLennan county (“Transac- 
tions of Texas Academy of Science,” 1901, Yol. IV, Part II, No. 5). I 
nm prepared to hear of its being found anywhere in Texas. 
HABITS. 
Elaps fulvius is so very quiet and retiring, and has such a dislike to 
sunlight, that little is known of its habits, and it is difficult to study in 
its natural conditions. It is nocturnal, and moves about after sundown 
and also on cloudy and rainy days. It prefers well-drained ground, and 
generally lives in a hole in the ground. I have sometimes found them 
under logs, and in Calhoun county I found one under the steps of a 
corn crib. Once located they will return to the same den every day 
Their favorite food is the little brown lizard, Liolepisma laterale, which 
inhabits the same localities as Elaps. I have taken as many as three 
from the stomach of one Elaps , and I more frequently found this lizard 
in their stomach than any other food. They also eat other snakes. I 
found in one instance that an Elaps had swallowed a young “Coach- 
whip” snake, Zamenis flagellum. Another one, found by my brother 
and myself, was distended, helpless and unable to crawl, and had an inch 
nr so of another snake’s tail protruding from its mouth. We carried it 
