The Racers 



The abdomen is yellow; there are a few dark blotches under 

 the chin and throat. Above, the head is dark; there is a pale 

 line from the nostril to the eye; the upper lip plates are pale. 



Dimensions. Attains a length of five, rarely six feet. 



Distribution. Arizona and southern California; probably 

 northern Mexico. 



Habits. The writer has had but one living specimen. It 

 was very nervous and when approached would dash frantically 

 about its cage, its head coming repeatedly in violent contact 

 with the glass as it endeavoured to rush through it. This spec- 

 imen was twice induced to eat very young birds, but lived only 

 a few months. 



THE STRIPED RACER; STRIPED WHIP SNAKE 

 Zamenis tceniatus, (Hallowell) 



Size fairly large; form very slender, with long, tapering 

 tail. Eyes large. 



Colouration. Very dark brown or black, with numerous, 

 narrow yellow lines on the sides. White beneath for the greater 

 portion of the length, but becoming coral pink under the tail. 

 The chin and throat are spotted with black. 



On close examination, the scales of the sides will be seen 

 to be yellow, with a black line extending through the centre of 

 each; this interruption of the ground-colour imparts the ap- 

 pearance of narrow, yellow lines on a darker ground, as explained 

 in the preceding paragraph. The edges of the abdominal plates 

 usually show an elongated, black spot; these spots form a row 

 on the greater length of the body. The yellow, striped appear- 

 ance on the sides, is most vivid on the forward portion ; toward 

 the latter portion of the body it becomes diffused with the ex- 

 ception of the uppermost bands of pale colour, which form a 

 bright stripe on each side of the back; the tail is usually with- 

 out traces of stripes. 



The head is dark the edges of the shields narrowly mar- 

 gined with white or yellow; there is a light spot in front and 

 behind the eye; the lip plates are yellow. 



Variation. The species exhibits a certain degree of varia- 

 tion with age, but the presence of several light bands on the sides 

 render it easily distinguishable. One distinct variety is described. 



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