ll developed as those of the viperine reptiles--though perhaps
capable of inflicting more deadly wounds than any of the latter,--with
the possible exception of the diamond-back rattlesnake of the extreme
southern portion of the country. Their coloration is exceedingly
beautiful, and when properly interpreted, entirely characteristic. From
the head to the tail their skins exhibit alternate rings, or encircling
bands of black, red and yellow--each band of the two former colors being
bordered by yellow; _in other words there are as many yellow stripes as
there are both black and red together._ Stress is laid upon the
characteristics just mentioned, for the reason that half a dozen species
of harmless serpents that greatly resemble them may, without exception,
be differentiated from the true coral-snakes by the fact that there are
as many _black bands as both red and yellow_. Where a snake has been
killed, it is of course quite easy to determine whether or not it is
venomous by a search for the fangs, which are never present in the
non-poisonous reptiles. Fortunately, the coral-snakes are only found in
the extreme southern portion of the United States, live under ground for
the most part, and are rarely encountered.

_Treatment of Snake-Bite._--As soon as a person has been bitten by a
poisonous serpent, a tight bandage, or ligature of any kind, should be
applied above the wound if the injury has been received on any of the
extremities,--which is fortunately the case in the vast majority of
instances. The part bitten should be at once exposed, and search made for
the point of entrance of the fangs. It should be particularly noted as to
whether there are one or two wounds, as it is true in about one-half of
the cases that only one fang enters the flesh,--in which case, of course,
the probabilities of serious consequences resulting are largely
diminished. With a pocket-knife or other sharp instrument the wound
should be enlarged, and, if possible, someone should be persuaded to suck
the wound; this should not be done by one with decayed teeth, as under
such circumstances the poison might be absorbed and produce unpleasant
consequences. A doctor should be summoned as quickly as is possible, but
it must be confessed that in the present state of knowledge, unless he
should happen to possess--which he probably will not--some antitoxin for
the particular snake doing the damage, his services will likely be of no
great value.