Storer's Snake or Red-bellied Snake

Storeria occipitomaculata, (Storer)

Colouration: Chestnut brown or grayish above. A streak of paler shade is generally present on the back. The abdomen is brilliant red, bordering which colour is a tinge of slate gray on the edges of the abdominal plates.
Dimensions: By comparing a large series of the Red-bellied Snake and the DeKay's Snake, the writer is led to believe the former to be a smaller species. The measurements given show an average of an extensive series:
Distribution: The species inhabits much the same areas as the DeKay's Snake. It is abundant in some portions of southern Canada, and is found over the United States generally east of the Rocky Mountains, whence it extends into Mexico. However, it is not so generally abundant as the DeKay's Snake. It appears to be restricted to certain areas, where it is common, but between which only occasional specimens may be found. In the mountainous regions of New York and New Jersey it is particularly abundant.
Habits: Very similar in its actions to the preceding species. It hides under flat stones or among loose rocks, venturing abroad late in the afternoon. The food consists of earthworms, slugs and the soft-bodied grubs of beetles. These little snakes live well in a terrarium, where, upon a diet of earthworms, they will subsist for several years, becoming very tame and taking their food from the hand.

Slightly smaller than the preceding species, but similar in general form.

The head is slightly darker than the body; immediately behind the head is a prominent yellow spot, and each side of the neck is a smaller spot of similar colour. These spots at once distinguish this reptile from the preceding and closely related species. Other points of distinction are given in the description of the latter snake.

Colour variations.-Above, individual specimens are inclined to vary to a considerable extent. The commoner form is brown, with a paler band on the back. On some specimens there are rows of indistinct, dark brown spots. Others are of a uniform brown above, with no traces of a paler band, while on each side of the vermilion underside, is a broad band of bluish-gray, narrowing the central, red portion to about one-third the width of the abdominal plates.

Occasional specimens are dark gray, or almost black, with a bright yellow band on the back. Such specimens are of a rich crimson on the under surface. Yet another variation is gray with two rows of white dots upon the back. The spots on the neck, however, are seldom lacking and serve to identify any of these varying forms.

Young specimens are very dark brown, or black, with a whitish collar.

Total Length . . . . . 10 inches.

Length of Tail . . . . . 2 3/16 inches.

Diameter of Body . . . . . 1/4 inches.

Width of Head . . . . . 3/16 inches.

Length of Head . . . . . 5/16 inches.

The Red-bellied Snake is viviparous, producing from eight to twelve young. The young are so diminutive that a large earthworm appears quite gigantic in comparison. One of these youngsters could coil comfortably upon a dime and leave a perceptible margin all around it. Following are observations upon the birth of several broods:

August 18th. Brood of 8. Female from Sullivan County, N. Y.

August 22nd. Brood of 7. Female from Sullivan County, N. Y.

August 23rd. Brood of 7. Female from Sullivan County, N. Y.

August 24rd. Brood of 13. Female from Sullivan County, N. Y.

August 25th. Brood of 9. Female from Sullivan County, N. Y.

August 25th. Brood of 8. Female from Sullivan County, N. Y.

August 26th. Brood of 9. Female from Sullivan County, N. Y.

August 27th. Brood of 7. Female from Sullivan County, N. Y.

August 30th. Brood of 7. Female from Sullivan County, N. Y.

Sept. 4th. Brood of 6. Female from Sullivan County, N. Y.

The average length of these young snakes was three and a quarter inches. Within an hour or so after birth they commenced shedding their skin, after which process they appeared black and velvety.

The Genus Haldea: But one species constitutes this genus. It is abundant in the southeastern United States. From its diminutive size, strongly keeled scales and colouration, it looks much like the two preceding species, but the head is more pointed, and the eyes much smaller.