Page:First course in biology (IA firstcourseinbio00bailrich).pdf/382

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

and death from blood being withdrawn from brain. Always two punctures, the closer together the smaller the snake. Remedies: Ligature between wound and heart, lance wound and suck; inject into wound three drops of 1 per cent solution of chromic acid or potassium permanganate. Give strychnine, hypodermically, until strychnine symptoms (twitchings) appear. If symptoms of collapse recur, repeat dose. Digitalin or caffein acts like strychnine; alcohol has opposite effect.

Fig. 276.—"Glass Snake," a lizard without legs.

Fig. 277.—Skull of Elaps. See colored Fig. 5.

Fig. 278.—Skull of Lampropeltis.

Protective Coloration and Mimicry.—When an animal imitates the color or form of its inanimate surroundings it is said to be protectively coloredor formed. Give an instance of protective colorationor form among lizards; butterflies; grass-*hoppers; amphibians; echinoderms. When an animal imitates the color or form of another animal it is said to mimic the animal. Mimicry usually enables an animal to deceive enemies into mistaking it for an animal which for some reason they avoid. The milkweed butterfly has a taste that is repulsive to birds. The viceroy butterfly is palatable to birds, but it is left untouched because of its close resemblance to the repulsive milkweed butterfly. The harlequin snake (Elaps) of the Gulf states is the only deadly snake of North America (Figs. 277, 278). It is very strikingly colored with rings of scarlet, yellow, and black. This is an example of warning coloration. The coral snake (Lampropeltis) has bands of