Peninsula Flat-nosed Snake

Phyllorhynchus decurtatus, (Cope)

Colouration: Whitish or pale yellow, with about thirty dark blotches on the back and one or two rows of spots on the sides.
Dimensions: Total length 15 7/8 inches; tail 1 5/8 inches.
Distribution: Lower California and south-western Arizona. But three specimens have been collected and of these only a single individual has been taken within the United States--at Yuma, Arizona.
Distribution: Central States.
Distribution: Davis Mountains, Texas.
Distribution: Southern portion of the Central Region and the S. E. United States.
Distribution: Western portion of the Central Region--west of the Mississippi. Kansas to Mexico.
Distribution: Southeastern U. S.
Distribution: Texas.
Distribution: Eastern U. S.
Distribution: Southeastern U. S.

Differs from the preceding reptile in having smooth scales and a shorter tail--about one-twelfth the total length; also in the colouration.

CHAPTER XXXII: THE RAT SNAKES OR COLUBERS; GENUS COLUBER

Large and Powerful Constricting Serpents. They are of Considerable Economic Value in Destroying Animals that are Injurious to Agricultural Pursuits.

IN THE United States the genus Coluber is represented by five species and several distinct varieties of large and richly coloured snakes. The genus as a whole contains several dozen species, inhabiting the temperate and tropical portions of both the New and the Old World. For all of these snakes, both for convenience and in the absence of a general, popular title, we will use the name Coluber. In some localities of this country they are called "rat snakes" and in others "chicken snakes." All of the species attain a considerable size. Next to the closely allied serpents of the genus Pituophis and the big Indigo Snake (Spilotes) the Colubers are the largest serpents inhabiting the United States.

The Colubers exhibit an unvarying preference for warmblooded prey--especially the smaller rodents, but with few exceptions they also feed upon birds and their eggs. Such North American species as the Red Coluber or Corn Snake, the Pilot Black Snake and the Fox Snake are found in considerable numbers in fields of growing grain. Their presence in such places--where the smaller injurious mammals congregate to nest and feed--is obvious, but not appreciated by the average farmer who slaughters the reptiles until their numbers have diminished to a standard far below that intended by Nature. With the destruction of the snakes comes an abundance of the injurious creatures of the fields and the farmer vents his disgruntled feelings to the accompaniment of further reptilian slaughter. The protest of one who appreciates the situation is usually met by the caustic reply that "snakes are snakes" and as such, are fit only for destruction by the hand of humanity. With persons who argue thus, it is a waste of time to talk. Suffice it to say that the farmer who has energetically pursued and clubbed to death the harmless snakes upon his lands, may boast about the extermination of the reptiles, but fails to realise that his labours in setting traps to destroy "vermin" constitute but weak and unsuccessful efforts of the work the snakes have been steadily maintaining.

The Colubers may generally be recognised by the flattened abdomen, the crawling-surface forming almost right angles with the sides. The body is moderately stout, the head broad and rather square. The scales of the body are so feebly keeled that with most of the species they appear quite smooth unless very closely examined.

In making up a key for these serpents, the colouration has been employed as the distinguishing character. This popularises the key but throws the species out of the order in which they should be arranged according to their actual relationship. The proper order is preserved, however, in the descriptive list. The colouration in the key appeals only to the adult individuals. The peculiar pattern of the young, of several species, will be described in the succeeding pages.

The key follows: (One other genus--Rhinechis, with a single species, is embraced in this chapter; the scales are smooth; the colouration is in transverse blotches.)

A. A series of large, central blotches and a smaller series on the sides of the body.

(One other genus--Rhinechis, with a single species, is embraced in this chapter; the scales are smooth; the colouration is in transverse blotches.)

Markings strongly defined.

a. Markings dark brown or blackish on a yellowish or gray body-colour.

No head bands. Yellowish, with regular, dark brown blotches

RED-HEADED COLUBER; FOX SNAKE, C. vulpinus.

No head bands. Yellow; black blotches sending out line-like points and assuming an H-shaped formation.

DAVIS MOUNTAIN COLUBER, C. subocularis.

Dark band on side of head. Gray, with dark brown blotches, assuming H-shaped formation on neck.

GRAY COLUBER, C. obsoletus, variety confinis.

Long, dark band on side of head. Gray, with regular, brown blotches.

EMORY'S COLUBER, C. emoryi.

b. Blotches crimson or blackish on reddish ground-color.

Black-bordered head stripes. Reddish with crimson blotches. Abdomen boldly tessellated with black and white.

RED COLUBER; CORN SNAKE, C. guttatus.

**? Blotches rather obscure.

Head black. Skin between the scales brick red. Blotches black. Edges of scales between the blotches, yellow.

LINDHEIMER'S COLUBER, C. obsoletus, variety lindheimeri.

B. Black--no blotches.

Edges of the scales sometimes white or yellow. Skin between the scales often brick red.

PILOT BLACK SNAKE; BLACK COLUBER, C. obsoletus, typical.

C. Four dark stripes on a pale ground.