The Striped Snakes Garter Snakes 



dage and away from what the reptile thus performing, is swal- 

 lowing. There is, of course, a possibility that the snakes thus 

 manoeuvring are merely displaying nervous symptoms in the 

 anticipation that their feeding will meet interference, but so 

 invariable are these antics that the first theory appears more 

 logical. 



The number of young produced by this viviparous species 

 is much smaller than with the majority of species of this genus. 

 The average brood numbers about a dozen. 



Unlike most of the striped snakes, which are voraciously 

 fond of earthworms, repeated observations of the Ribbon Snake 

 demonstrate that the species does not feed upon them. 



THE SOUTHERN RIBBON SNAKE OR OSTEN-SACKEN'S 



RIBBON SNAKE 

 Eutcenia sackeni, (Kennicott) 



Size and form like the preceding species, but the colouration 

 is distinctly different. 



Colouration. Dark brown, green or olive above, with a 

 bright yellow stripe on each side, on the third and fourth rows 

 of scales. With some specimens there is an indistinct stripe on 

 the back, showing more brightly for an inch or so behind the 

 head. With the majority, however, the stripe of the back is 

 absent with the exception of a yellow streak on the neck. 



The abdomen is yellowish-white, and immaculate, the edges 

 of the plates tinged with brown as with the ribbon snake. When 

 distended, the skin of the body shows elongated, white spots, 

 There are no square, black blotches between the stripes the 

 same possessed by many of the garter snakes. 



Dimensions. This serpent appears to be a somewhat smaller 

 species than the closely allied ribbon snake. The measurements 

 given are of an adult: 



Total Length 17! inches. 



Length of Tail 6J 



Greatest Diameter f 



Width of Head. 



Length of Head * 



Distribution. The coast regions of South Carolina and 

 Georgia; Florida generally. 



Habits. In habits this species is very similar to the Ribbon 



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