1915.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 169 



spots, particularly so in No. 6,218. The three subspecies getulus, 

 sayi and splendidus intergrade so imperceptibly and specimens from 

 one region sometimes reveal all the supposed distinguishing 

 characters. 



Dimensions and Variations. — These specimens vary from 67.6- 

 144.4 cm. (2 ft. 1 in.-4 ft. 9 in.) and the tail from 9.1-19.3 cm. (7.4- 

 9 in the total length); the gastrosteges are 214-223 or average 218; 

 urosteges are 41-54 or average 49; the scales are 21-21-19 in eight 

 of the specimens and the other formulas are 21-23-19, 22-21-19, 

 23-21-19 twice, 23-23-19; the oculars are 1-2; supralabials 7; 

 infralabials 9 or 10; temporals may deviate from 2-3, the formula 

 for ten specimens, one specimen has thern 1-3, another has 2-2 and 

 a third 2-3 on one side and 2-4 on the other; the loreal is present 

 in all and in No. 6,218 {sayi-WkQ specimen) there are two on the left 

 side. The anal is entire, in No. 6,139 it is entire, but the gastrostege 

 ahead is divided and in No. 6,140 the anal plate is divided into 

 three parts. 



6148 



6138 6142 



Fig. 10. — Lampropeltis getulus getulus (Linn.) 



Habits. — This species is one of the most strikingly marked snakes 

 of the swamp. The shining black or brown with the contrasting 

 white or yellow cross-bands makes its appearance very attractive. 

 In nature, it is mild, proves an interesting and safe pet, and in no 

 instance during our stay in the swamp did it display any tendency 

 toward belligerency or sullenness toward any member of the party. 



Food. — The natives recognize its goodnature and consider it harm- 

 less, though the king of the snakes. They are aware of its usefulness 

 as an enemy of moccasins and rattlesnakes and report several 

 combats which always resulted successfully for the king snake, but 

 these unlettered people, unlike many sentimental writers, do not 

 hold that the king snake deliberately searches for the poisonous 

 snakes in particular. We, as they, believe it the enemy of ever}' 

 species of snake in the swamp, preying of course more on the terres- 

 trial species of its own haunts. All the smaller snakes suffer, and 

 of the larger species, the blacksnake and spreading adder are the 

 commonest prey. It is surely a good "pilot" to the naturalist 



