What is the REAL snake rule?

Question

You know the saying about the red,black, and yellow snake. There are two that look very alike but one is poisonis ans one is not. People have a little saying but I've heard two versions but one has to be wrong because they contradict. which one is right or are they both wrong.

1.) When red touches yellow a friend to the fellow, when red touches black get back jack.
or
2.) When yellow touches red you're as good as dead, when yellow touches black you're a cool cat.

One of these is wrong. If you know the correct one tell me please.

Answer 1

There is no "real" rule, there is too many types of snakes for a rule to apply in all cases.

From Wikipedia: "In some regions, the order of the bands distinguishes between the non-venomous mimics and the venomous coral snakes, inspiring some folk rhymes — Red touching yellow kills a fellow; Red touching black is a friend of Jack, Red on yellow, kill a fellow; Red on black, venom lack, Red and yellow, kill a fellow; Red and black, poison lack, or "Red touches black, you're ok Jack; Red touches yellow, you're a dead fellow.". However, this only applies to Micrurus fulvius and Micrurus tener, found in the south and eastern United States. Coral snakes found in other parts of the world can have distinctly different patterns, and can even have red bands touching black bands, have only red and black banding, or have no banding at all.

So, for coral snakes, in the south and eastern United States, #2 seems closest

Answer 2

Wow - this is beginning to sound awfully complex. Like "The pellet with the poison's in the vessel with the pestle, the chalice from the palace has the brew that is true."

I think we should propose a new snake rule:

Leave the snake alone. Walk away slowly and calmly if at all possible.

Answer 3

I always heard "when red touches yellow, you're a DEAD fellow. If red touches black, you're OK JACK."