1915.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 161 



32 mm. (1| inches) x 18 mm. (f^ inch). 

 39 mm. (IfV " ) x 16 mm. (| " ). 

 36 mm. (lyV " ) x 17 mm. {\\ " ). 



30 mm. (lf\ '' )xl8mm. (H " )• 



Three others quite fresh in appearance when ploughed up were: 



36 mm. (lyV inches) x 17 mm. (H inch). 

 36 mm. (liV " ) x 18 mm. (H " ). 

 41 mm. (If " ) X 16 mm. (| " ). 



Another batch of four taken in a similar way had been developing 

 for a time and at preservation measured: 



36 mm. (ly^g inches) x 22 mm. (| inch). 



33 mm. (IfV " ) x 23 mm. (| " ). 



34 mm. (If " ) x 22 mm. (| " ). 

 36 mm. (lyV " ) x 22 mm. (| " ). 



In all these eleven eggs the usual shape is elliptical with blunt, 

 rounded ends. In the first and second sets, one egg is much more 

 elongate and one end more pointed than the other. This tendency 

 toward the ovoid form also comes in the third set, where development 

 has progressed and the increase in size has been in girth. All these 

 eggs when laid are white with tough, coracious shells which are 

 covered with small crystal-shaped or cup-like granules. These 

 make the egg quite distinctive. 



6. Elaphe guttatus (Linn.): Com Snake; Rat Snake; Chicken Snake; Red Chicken Snake; 

 Mouse Snake; House King Snake; House Snake; Spotted Snake; Spotted Racer; Spotted 

 Coluber; Red Coluber. 



Only two specimens (Nos. 6,229, 6,230) were taken July 15- 

 November 1, 1912, after our departure. Beyer^^ thinks of them as 

 fairly common in pine-wood regions, but says, "It is not found in 

 the swamp lands, being strictly terrestrial in its habits." Certainly, 

 this form must have travelled through swamp to reach Billy's Island 

 and doubtless encounters moisture enough on the islands. 



Coloration. — This beautiful snake is light red or ashy-gray, with 

 a series of dorsal dark red, crimson or brick-red saddles or transverse 

 bars. These are 3-5 scales wide, occupy from 10-13 rows and have 

 dark-edged borders. On one specimen there are 50 in all, 36 before 

 the vent and 14 beyond it; in the other, there are 41 blotches, 29 

 before the vent and 12 beyond it. On either side appears an alter- 

 nating row of smaller dark-bordered red spots. Anteriorly, these 



31 Beyer, Geo. E. La. Herpetology, Proc. La. Soc. Naturalists, 1897-1899, 

 New Orleans, 1900, p. 39. 



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