178 



PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF 



[Mar., 



Several of the other labials are with large black spots or margins. 

 The dorsal head plates of body color are with a strong sprinkling of 

 black. One specimen (No. 6,239) superficially looks almost as 

 black as the specimen of the red-bellied species did. 



Dimensions and Variations. — The gastrosteges were 135 and 138, 

 respectively; the urosteges 62 and 48. The total lengths were 

 24.4 cm. and 29.3 cm.; the tails 5.8 and 5.2 cm. or 4j and 5f in the 

 total length. There are 7 supralabials with the eye resting on the 

 3d and 4th; the infralabials 7; no loreal; temporals 1-2; anal plate 

 divided, in one specimen with a half gastrostege in front of it. The 

 oculars of No. 6,237 are 1-2 on both sides, but on the right side the 

 preocular is almost divided into two, while No. 6,239 the oculars 

 are 2-2. This character coupled with the scales 15-15-15 in both 

 specimens raises the query whether 15 or 17 rows of scales and 2 or 1 



6287 



6237 



6239 



6238 



6238 



Fig. 12. — Upper figures, Sloreria dekayi (Holb.) 



maculata (Storer) . 



r\orrr\a\ 



Lower figures, S. occipito- 



preoculars are constant differences between S. occipitomaculata and 

 S. dekayi as commonly held. Besides, the red-bellied specimen 

 shows greater variation in preoculars by being 3 instead of 2. 



Habits. — This species is nocturnal, spending the day beneath logs 

 and stones in rocky situations as well as in meadows. Several^ 

 times the authors have found it in low fields near a marshy stream. 



Food and Breeding. — The DeKay's snake is not wholly insectivo- 

 rous, as one specimen had 8 gastropods (shells missing) in its stomach. 

 One specimen had 17 small developing eggs, 14 being on the left 

 side. Inasmuch as this was taken after July 15, this would doubtless 

 indicate that this particular specimen of this ovoviviparous species 

 would not have given birth to young until late summer or early fall. 



14. Storeria occipitomaculata (Storer): Red-bellied Snake; Storer's Snake; Brown Snake; 

 Ground Snake; Storer's Grass Snake. 



One specimen (No. 6,238) taken on Billy's Island between July 15 

 and November 1, 1912, after our departure. This comes well within 



