An interesting study was done in 1995 re avian predators and their reaction to mono,bi or tri colored snakes. The PDF is available through the teriffic Sierra Herps site but has been available through other sources as well.

http://www.sierraherps.com/pdf/Eckerman_Mimicry.pdf

When we look at corals and milks actively prowling the time is often early AM or late PM when light is fading (or tall grass and forest provide cover) or for the tropical corals, prowling is done late at night (pers experience). The flashy colors do not reveal in low light and these snakes have never been selected by evolutionary/predatory pressure to change from a flashy pattern to cryptic browns or black.
Exceptions exist though: a black coral snake was found in Orlando years ago and Shannon has a patternless blanchardi from an area know to produce patternless blanchards. I have a patternless gentilis also.
These exceptions could be remnant genes that re-surface and would prevent the species from being eliminated if the environment were to put pressure on the bi or tri colored patterns. A safeguard gene if you will. Maybe.
But that line of thought proposes that flashy bands are a recent evolutionary development and these snakes may have been dull brown snakes eons ago and I'm lacking suppotive data aside from a few "safeguard" examples. Colors don't fossilize unfortunately.
Nevertheless, we have flashy snakes that apparently warn and startle predators and can also benefit the snake as a hunter/predator.
Check out Eckerman's paper if you don't already have it wallpapering your snake room.
Jeff



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