Valeria's Snake

Virginia valeriae, (Baird & Girard)

Colouration: Dark chestnut, or grayish-brown, usually with two rows of minute black dots on the back. Abdomen yellowish-white.
Dimensions: The measurements of an adult, female specimen, are given:
Distribution: The species occurs rather commonly from Maryland, westward to Illinois, and southward to Georgia (inclusive). In the southern portion of its range, it extends westward to the Mississippi River.
Habits: Similar to the preceding soberly-coloured and diminutive reptiles, this little snake leads a secretive life. It feeds upon worms and the soft-bodied larvae of insects that burrow into decaying trees. A female captured in North Carolina on the 10th of August, gave birth to seven young on the 15th of the same month. The tiny creatures were not as thick as an ordinary match.

Very small, with moderately stout body, and short, abruptly tapering tail. Head pointed and not very distinct from the neck.

This species appeals to the Worm Snake, (Carphophis), but the head of that reptile is of the same width as the neck, while the abdomen is pinkish. With the present species it will be observed that the head is perceptibly wider than the neck, and the abdomen yellowish.

Total Length . . . . . 7 1/4 inches.

Length of Tail . . . . . 1 1/4 inches.

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

Width of Head . . . . . 7/32 inches.

Length of Head . . . . . 3/8 inches.