The remainder was hidden by the thick foliage where its tail no doubt was coiled around a branch.

That part of the body that was seen was of a uniform blood-red colour, though the belly or under side was much the lightest.
"_Voila_!" muttered Francois, "what a red snake! I never saw such before." "Nor I either," added Basil.
"Nor I," said Lucien, "but I have heard of it.

I easily recognise it from the description.

It is the `red snake' of the Rocky Mountains (_Coluber testacea_)." "Oh," said Basil, "I have heard trappers speak of it." "Yes," added Lucien.

"It is a rare species, and only found in the Far West.