The Striped Snakes Garter Snakes 



Illustration chins. Examination will show the larger chin shields 

 of E. elegans to be fairly uniform in size, while the rear pair of 

 these with E. sirtalis are considerably the longer. Besides these 

 characters, the scales of the body, of the present species, are 

 generally arranged in 21 oblique rows and there are usually 

 eight upper lip plates. The allied species generally possesses 

 19 rows of scales and seven upper labial plates. However, 

 both species exhibit variations into one or the other combinations 

 a condition which may demonstrate, with further investiga- 

 tion that the two are not thoroughly distinct species. 



Colouration. The pattern of the Pacific Garter Snake is 

 not unlike that of some of the Eastern forms of sirtalis. The 

 ground-colour is blackish, olive or dark brown. There is a 

 bright stripe (generally yellow) of moderate width upon the back 

 and a less sharply defined stripe on the side. Few specimens 

 possess any but a slight trace of spots between the stripes. The 

 abdomen is greenish yellow; the throat bright yellow. There 

 are no dark borders on the upper lip plates. 



Variation. Even with the typical form there is a con- 

 siderable degree of variation in colour as well as in the definition 

 of the stripe on the side. Some specimens have a red stripe 

 on the back and yellow stripes on the sides. Others have a 

 yellow, central stripe and bright red stripes on the sides. Many 

 specimens have a pronounced, bright yellow central stripe, and 

 dull greenish stripes on the sides. 



A number of specimens received from California are bril- 

 liantly marked. They are black above, with a vivid yellow 

 stripe on the back, and rich, brick red stripes on the sides. The 

 abdomen is green, blotched and speckled with red to such an 

 extent as to make the under side of the snake appear as if the 

 reptile had crawled over a surface spotted with blood. 



Dimensions. Following are the measurements of an adult 

 specimen: 



Total Length 27$ inches 



Length of Tail 5f 



Greatest Diameter f " 



Width of Head f " 



Length of Head ITS' " 



Distribution. The Pacific coast region Oregon to Cali- 

 fornia. 



226 



