1915.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 151 



into it. Our first hold of this snake was not secure and it as quickly 

 began burrowing the second time. From all that we observed of 

 the living snakes of this species we would consider them timid, 

 harmless burrowers. They are decidedly inhabitants of the twilight 

 parts of the swamp, and their eyes suggest such a habitat. If found 

 during the day, they appear in the dark, gloomy cypress ponds on 

 the islands or amongst the dense vegetation of the deepest and 

 most inaccessible regions of the swamp. We discovered no par- 

 ticular superstitions regarding its horny tip. It is curious to find 

 the hill hoop-rolling story also associated with this species, which 

 to my mind is one of our most aquatic species, and the names 

 "cypress" or "sphagnum" snake would be equally appropriate with 

 some of the names suggested by its structures. 



Food and Breeding. — None of the specimens had food in their 

 alimentary tract and no parasites were found. The natives relate 

 how the thunder snake (L. gelulus) digs beneath rotten logs and other 

 cover for the adults and young of this species. Of the breeding 

 habits of this oviparous form we know little. The natives assert 

 that the progeny of one female sometimes reaches 40 to 43. 



2. Diadophis punctatus (Linnseus): Ring-necked Snake. Plate III, fig. 1. Fig. 5. 



This species is probably fairly common on the islands of the 

 swamp. Three specimens were secured on Billy's Island between 

 June 11 and 15, 1912. 



Coloration. — All three specimens are bluish-black or brown above, 

 the color extending on to the end of each gastrostege. These black 

 spots on either extremity appear as a row on each side of the venter. 

 In No. 6,105 they are very obscure on the neck region. In all three 

 the dorsal scales are with pale edges and with numerous fine light 

 specks. In No. 6,104 the edges of the dorsal scales are opalescent. 

 In No. 6,106 there is a median row of body-colored spots down the 

 venter to the anus, all the urosteges and gastrostege No. 2 being 

 without spots; the same applies to No. 6,105 with the urosteges and 

 gastrosteges Nos. 1-5, 8 unspotted; in No. 6,104, the median row is 

 very interrupted, no spots being on gastrosteges Nos. 1-20, except 

 No. 3, and none beyond No. 133, while between Nos. 21-133 there 

 are several missing. In No. 6,105, the nuchal half collar is 1-2 

 scales wide; in No. 6,106 it is the same width, but interrupted by a 

 median dorsal row of black scales, while in No. 6,104 it is faint 

 except on the lower sides. In No. 6,105, the mental and labial 

 regions are almost immaculate, a few infralabials being with faint 

 black spots; in No. 6,104, each infralabial is weh marked with one 



